Date Archives: March 2020

If you've suddenly found yourself among the many remote workers around the country, you can easily create brilliant work-friendly spaces from a spare corner, a few feet of wall, or even in your basement. To help you create a dedicated workspace that is welcoming, smart, and functional, our real estate agents recommend the following tips:

1. Ensure Comfortable Seating
   Comfortable seating doesn't mean bringing in a sofa, beanbag chair, or other furniture that can make you dose off. Simply get a decent office chair that you can comfortably sit on for a few hours. An ergonomically designed chair with back support will help promote good posture and keep you comfortable and fully alert.

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The world health community continues to monitor closely the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the disease it causes, named "coronavirus disease 2019" (COVID-19). At this time, no one knows how severe this outbreak will be. Given this uncertainty, and the fact that the seasonal influenza (flu) virus is also widespread, we are taking proactive steps to address a number of business concerns.

First and foremost, we want to continue to maintain a safe workplace, encourage our valued community residents to utilize practices that protect the health of family members and friends. We also want to ensure the continuity of business operations.  To that end, the company has contracted with a professional cleaning service to perform an extensive two step deep cleaning.  Within the last 24 hours, all Laffey Real Estate offices have undergone this essential service.  While we cannot eradicate every germ, we are confident that this activity will help reduce the unintentional spread of the virus. 

We ask that everyone cooperate in taking steps to reduce the transmission of communicable diseases. 

We are reminding you of the following:

• Stay home when you are sick.
• Wash your hands frequently with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds.
• Cover your mouth with tissues whenever you sneeze, and discard used tissues in the trash.
• Avoid people who are sick with respiratory symptoms.
• Clean frequently touched surfaces.

Of note, our senior management team has made a collective, albeit difficult, decision to temporarily close our branch locations in an effort to protect our employees, agents and of course the members of the communities we serve.  To that end, we have instructed our IT department to install remote software on all essential office personnel computers so as to continue with the business at hand. 

Currently, Open Houses are being scheduled at the behest of the Seller.  However, company initiated meetings where close proximity may put someone in danger of contracting the virus have been postponed. 

We are moving to a virtual platform to remotely schedule Closings, Lease Signings and other events deemed time sensitive or essential.  We are heeding the instructions from the CDC and other health care experts, taking every step possible to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

We know this is a difficult time.  Be mindful of the elderly and those with pulmonary or compromised health situations.  Check in (by phone) on older neighbors, family members and friends.  Use your common sense and discretion as you go about your everyday life. 

Laffey Real Estates wishes you safety and health. 

With homebuyers placing a high premium on space and flexibility, a bonus room can be a definite advantage if you're selling your home. But rather than leaving them virtually empty or using them for storage, sellers should stage bonus rooms to show them off to their maximum advantage.

Our real estate agents suggest the following ways to help prospective buyers feel inspired when they see your bonus room:

• Consider your likely buyer
  Tailor your bonus room to the type of buyer who is likely to be interested in your home. If it's likely to appeal to a family with young children, consider making your bonus room into a nursery, playroom, or extra bedroom. But if your neighborhood attracts a lot of young professionals, your bonus room may be more appealing if it's transformed into a home office.

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Springtime is almost here and that means prime real estate season is right around the corner. If you're thinking about selling your home, you're in good company. Our real estate agents are already working with many sellers who are preparing to list their homes in the coming months.

Want to make sure your house stands out from the crowd? You'll need to put in a bit of extra effort. Start with these six tips. 

1. Update Your Curb Appeal
   After a long, hard winter the outside of your home is sure to need a bit of TLC. Make sure you put your best foot forward by sprucing up your landscaping and adding some extra touches to make your outdoor space more appealing. This includes:

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Will an open house sell my home? This question is one of the most common that our real estate agents field from clients. As with many questions, the answer isn't always "yes" or "no." Often, the value of an open house depends on market conditions and location. Thus, it is essential to work closely with your real estate agent to determine the best way to leverage an open house to achieve the sale you desire.

Open Houses Generate Interest (& Potentially Higher Profit)

The primary benefit of an open house is that it generates interest in your home. Like a beacon in the night, it attracts prospective buyers and real estate agents. It is a quick way to grow the pool of interested buyers and spread the word that your home is available for sale. While it may not seem beneficial on the surface, the fact is that real estate agents who attend open houses are doing so in the search for the perfect property for their clients. For each real estate agent who visits your home, they may recommend your home to 5, 10, or 20 clients eager to make an offer on your property.

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