Indianapolis Area Homes for Sale
Shawna O'Brien, Realtor/Broker Indy, Geist, Fishers, Carmel & all surrounding areas
Shawna has been very accommodating and proactive on our behalf the past seven months while we shopped for our first home. From searching high and low for the perfect home, negotiating sale price, managing the inspection process, all the way through closing, Shawna has had our back through it all. I would definitely recommend her to any of my family and friends looking for a smooth experience in home buying.
Valentine’s Day is recognized and celebrated by approximately 54 percent of Americans. According to the National Retail Federation U.S. Consumers will spend nearly 19.6 billion on Valentine’s Day ($143.56 per person) on gifts, candy, cards, an evening out, flowers and jewelry.
But what if one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to “go out” less and/or spend less in 2019? You can still recognize and celebrate Valentine’s Day with Loved Ones and Friends without breaking the bank.
Here are some ideas on how to celebrate Valentine’s Day at HOME with friends and loved ones:
If you’re in a relationship:
If you’re single:
If you’re home with kids:
Lastly, you could make the evening not about you at all. Make something to leave on a neighbor’s porch or choose somewhere you can volunteer in your community.
Shawna O’Brien
shawna.obrien@talktotucker.com
F.C. Tucker Geist
The Tumbarello Group
The following are the most common features buyers want in a home.*
Laundry Room: While many homes have a nook in the hallway or withing a bathroom for a washer and dryer, most buyers (92%) of all ages want a separate laundry room with space for these appliances, plus room to sort and iron.
Exterior Lighting: 90% of buyers want a home with outdoor lighting, including spotlights, walkway lights and pendant lights. Not only does this lighting highlight your home’s curb appeal, it’s also a safety measure. For example, motion lights will turn on whenever they sense movement.
Energy-efficient windows and appliances: Energy Star-rated windows and appliances are a top choice of buyers – 90% prefer energy-saving appliances and 87% prefer energy-saving windows. Energy-efficient windows can reduce heating and cooling costs by 12%. Additionally, homeowners may save up to $40 a year on the their utility bills by including energy-efficient appliances in their homes.
Patio: More than 84% of buyers feel a patio is an important home feature. Many people entertain outside during the warmer months of the year and a patio allows them to do so without having to modify their home.
Hardwood Floors: For 82% of buyers, hardwood floors are a desirable selling point in a home. Hardwood floors tend to be more durable and easier to maintain than carpet. They also offer a timeless aesthetic to a home. Homeowners can add rugs to improve the warmth of a space or tie the room together.
Garage Storage Space: Storage is important to 81% of buyers, especially if they have growing families. Additional storage in the garage keeps the main living areas free of clutter and is more accessible than attic or basement spaces. Improvement options include installing pegboard on the wall for tools, improving the lighting and electrical circuits or adding cabinets.
Eat in Kitchen: Many buyers (80%) like the appeal of eating their meals in the kitchen, especially if they have children. Creating space in the kitchen for a small table and chairs may be as simple as removing a wall. You will want to make sure the wall is non-load-bearing, with limited repair work involved and without pipes or wires needing to be removed. If the wall contains any of these factors, your costs could increase dramatically.
If you would like references for qualified individuals to perform any of the tasks above, contact me at shawna.obrien@talktotucker.com. I have an extensive list of credible individuals/businesses that would be happy to work with you.
Shawna O’Brien
shawna.obrien@talktotucker.com
F.C. Tucker Geist
The Tumbarello Group
*Source: Kiplinger
There’s a reason the home remodel, re-hab and re-decorating shows on TV are abundant and popular with viewers. Everyone wants to see the AFTER pictures of the home and the transformation to a beautiful inviting space.
Take a minute and think about what makes the homes at the end of the episode look clean and inviting and apply the same tactics to your home before you put it on the market. I also recommend looking at the decor builders use to highlight their spec homes. Newly built homes are your competition so jump online and look at the pictures for ideas on how to make your home just as desirable.
Here’s how to create a calm and inviting space buyers will love without spending a ton of money.
This will always be my number one tip for sellers. Eliminate the clutter. The knick nacks, stacks of magazines, papers, useless items taking up space, closets full of clothes you don’t wear, too many pictures on the wall, and personal keepsakes that don’t enhance the space. A buyer’s eye will be drawn to all the “stuff” instead of the square footage. Buyers want to feel relaxed and calm when they walk into your home, not stressed out and overwhelmed trying to envision themselves living in the space. Messy rooms are a distraction and science proves that the clutter is stressing YOU out too – and you don’t need that when trying to market and sell your home.
You have made your home the way you love it for you to enjoy and that includes choosing whatever paint color makes you happy BUT your home now needs to appeal to the masses. Color is not only subjective but there are many studies to support paint colors evoke emotion. You want to evoke an emotion of calm and contentment when buyers are walking through your home. Therefor, I recommend repainting any rooms with bold colors such as red and orange and all rooms with bright colors & bold patterns. Red was once a popular color for dining rooms but it’s been proven that emotionally, red makes people feel anxious and aggressive. EEK! Choose neutral colors that will evoke a “homey” feeling for the buyer. If the walls are dirty from hand prints and pets, it’s imperative you spruce it up with a fresh coat of paint. Perception is reality and buyers will believe your home is dirty.
Whether you have a room designated as an office area or you’re using a space in your kitchen or bedroom, hide all the personal documents and cords when preparing your home for buyers. It’s not good aesthetically and just like clutter, it’s stressful and distracting to the eye and mind. Work spaces are a want and usually a need for buyers so it’s great to show you have the space to accomodate, but buyers don’t want to see all your papers, cords, banker boxes, pencil holders, stuffed peg boards, multiple monitors, etc.
You can’t change how the sunlight comes into the home during the day, how big your windows are to let in the natural light, or if your lot is shady, but you can change the lighting inside the home. Aesthetically, I recommend updated your lamps in general and adding more for rooms that don’t have ceiling lighting. Contemporary free standing lighting can be purchased economically at most big box stores and will update the space immediately. End tables should have lamps that are to scale with your furniture and space, and ideally be symmetrical if you are bookending sofas and beds. Replace bulbs with LED and energy-efficient lights to brighten and save you money.
All of the above can be accomplished without spending a lot of money, yet they will make a big difference in the desirability of your home. What other ways do you think you could create inviting spaces for buyers? Please share!
Shawna O’Brien
shawna.obrien@talktotucker.com
F.C. Tucker Geist
The Tumbarello Group
Shawna O’Brien
shawna.obrien@talktotucker.com
F.C. Tucker Geist
The Tumbarello Group
With several inches of snow on the ground and more coming this weekend, you may be on the lookout for a great place to go sledding. Here are some of the best in the Indy area.
Paul Ruster Park
11300 E. Prospect St., Indianapolis
Located just off the parking lot, the hill at Paul Ruster Park is long and not too steep—perfect for sledding. There’s plenty of room and no dangerous trees—perhaps the best sledding location in the metro area.
Ft. Harrison State Park
6000 N. Post Road, Indianapolis
Since this is a state park, there is an admission fee, but the sledding hill here is one of the largest in the city so it’s worth it. Cross country skiing is another popular winter sport in the park.
Koteewi Run Seasonal Slopes
11800 Koteewi Dr., Noblesville
Part of Hamilton County’s Strawtown Koteewi Park development, Koteewi Run is actually a tubing run, not a sledding hill. There’s a fee (starting at $20). Tubes are supplied, so this is a good option if you don’t have a sled, and there’s a tow line so you don’t have to walk to the top.
Simon Moon Park
2710 E 171st St., Westfield
There are two designated sledding areas on one hill: the east slope and the south slope.
Rhodius Park
1001 S. Belmont Ave., Indianapolis
The hill is in the southwest corner of the park and is on the list of approved sledding sites from Indy Parks and Recreation.
Hummel Park
1500 S. Center St., Plainfield
The sledding hill is situated near the parking lot, so it’s easy to warm up in your car between runs.
Southeastway Park
5624 South Carroll Road, New Palestine
The tree line at the top of the hill makes things a little crowded, but the sledding is good so it’s worth the extra wait time
Freedom Park
850 Stop 18 Road, Greenwood
The biggest perk at Freedom Park in Greenwood is the stairs that get you to the top of the sledding hill.
If you have small children, you need small hills and smaller crowds. Consider these two parks for the little ones:
Ellenberger Park
5301 St. Clair, Indianapolis
Multiple small slopes allow sledding enthusiasts to spread out.
Holliday Park
6363 Spring Mill Rd., Indianapolis
The slopes at Holliday Park are near the Nature Center. Like Ellenberger Park, it has multiple small hills suitable for sledding with small children.
Original source: talktotucker.com/blog
Shawna O’Brien
shawna.obrien@talktotucker.com
F.C. Tucker Geist
The Tumbarello Group
Shawna O’Brien
shawna.obrien@talktotucker.com
F.C. Tucker Geist
The Tumbarello Group
Shawna O’Brien
shawna.obrien@talktotucker.com
F.C. Tucker Geist
The Tumbarello Group
Indianapolis Area Homes for Sale 