Jen Schiavone - Glasshouse Realty Group

10/09/2023

Thinking of selling? Centerville homes are always in demand! 🔥

10/08/2023

Here's my hot take.

Homeowners who have been locked in at a low rate don't want to put their house on the market and risk getting "less house" thanks to housing prices and mortgage rates.

Home prices won't budge because inventory is low and homeowners need to get the most out of their sale to afford where they are going.

And interest rates won't go down until inflation rates go down.

So, what does this mean for you? So glad you asked :)

You have to do what's best for YOU. If you are currently in a home you love, stay. If you are in a home you don't love but don't think you can afford to move, talk with an agent and a lender and get the truth about your numbers. Then make an educated decision based on those numbers.

If you really want to find a place you love and have the means to do so, let's list your house and get you moved! If you're able to buy, you totally should.

Like they say, the best time to buy a house is always 5 years ago. Even buying a home at a higher price with a higher rate can help you accumulate wealth through real estate in the long run, and I am here to help you every step of the way!

08/23/2023

Super excited for this new partnership! 🩵🩵🩵🩵

Our team is excited to announce that we are partnering with Glasshouse Realty Group! 🩵🩵🩵 This new adventure holds lots of opportunity for our team to continue to serve the cities we love and grow together with amazing agents!

07/26/2023

Fun fact: the Federal Housing Finance Agency recently reported home prices nationwide appreciated by an average of 290.2% over the last 32 years.

So just imagine how buying a home today could impact your life 32 years from now…64 years from now…and even for your family 96 years from now!

Our legacy is so much bigger than what people think about us…and your legacy can make life better for your future and your family in the years to come!

05/02/2023

Home Showing Icks 👎🏻👎🏻

I put together a list of things that are a bit "icky" when showing homes!

1. Dirty laundry sitting out👚 I get it, they still live here. But we don't want to see dirty socks and underwear. Either tuck the basket away in a closet or throw it in your trunk when you sneak away during the showing!

2. Evidence of pets 🐈No one loves pets more than I do. BUT litter boxes and dog dishes can be off putting to some buyers. Take your pets (and their things!) with you or over to a neighbor's house during showings to avoid turning off potential buyers.

3. Dirty dishes in the sink 🍽️ Again, we know you live here. But we want to see how big and beautiful your sink is...not what you ate for lunch. Pro tip: Keep up with your dishes when your house is on the market so you can easily place them in the dishwasher (or just put them away!) before a showing.

4. Personal displays 🖼️ Listen, we are super impressed that you graduated from Cornell and sang in the a ca****la group "Here Comes Treble," but now when we walk through your home, all we can think about is how we are actually standing in Andy Bernard's house and, as exciting as that is, we can't picture it being our new home. Family photos, diplomas, and political memorabilia are all great things to pre-pack before you list your home!

5. Toilet seats 🚽 Close the lids!

6. When the house looks NOTHING like the photos 🏡 I'm a huge fan of professional photos, but no one likes being blindsided when they step inside a home and realize the photos were overly-edited. The goal is not just beautiful photos, but beautiful photos that reflect the true condition of the home.

Have you seen anything "icky" at a showing before??

04/26/2023

When you do the hard work of getting your home prepped for sale, listing and marketing your home, and you STILL aren’t getting offers, you may find yourself calling your agent asking, “What’s wrong with my house?” 🤷🏻‍♀️

When a listing isn’t getting offers, it’s NOT the time to get emotional and take things personally. It’s important to listen to the feedback and respond to what the market is saying about your home.

There are 3 main things buyers think about when considering your home. They are 1) Location, 2) Condition, and 3) Price.

If buyers like your house but don’t love the location, the only thing you can really do is lower the price.

If you’re getting lots of showings but no offers, buyers are probably ok with the location and condition but you’re likely priced too high.

And if you’re simply not getting any showings, since you can’t change the location, you can only either improve the condition or lower the price.

More often than not, your home is simply priced too high. But it’s important to have an agent you trust who is familiar with your market because they may make some suggested improvements that invite offers.

These conversations aren’t fun to have with sellers, but again, this is not a personal attack on you or your style. Take a deep breath and respond based on facts and a good offer will probably come your way soon!

04/23/2023

5 Reasons Being a Homeowner in the Spring is Awesome 🌱

1. Spring Aesthetic - The windows open for a cool breeze, a vase of lilies on the table, and a light daffodil colored throw blanket on our favorite chair. We get to create a space that feels light and refreshing in our homes this time of year!

2. Plant a Garden - there's arguably nothing much more therapeutic than getting your hands in some dirt and planting seeds, knowing you'll be reaping the rewards for months and even years to come.

3. Everything Blooms - You'll get to watch your fav trees and plants bloom again! Every day as you sip your morning coffee, you'll get to look outside your window and enjoy your fav plants bloom right before your eyes. It may sound silly but it really does make you stop and appreciate the little things.

4. Create a Cozy Outdoor Space - sometimes we focus so much on the interior of our homes we forget how lucky we are to have space outside to enjoy! String some lights, arrange a few chairs, light a fire, and invite your people over to enjoy the weather! Don't forget your citronella candle!

5. Tax Assessment - Sure it's never fun to have to pay a little more in taxes (this is typically not a big increase), but it's always fun to see your house increase in value. And I've got good news for you! There's a good chance your home is actually worth MORE than the assessed value! 💰 If you're curious what your home is likely worth today, just DM me and I can do some research for you, no commitment required!

What do YOU love about home this time of year? 🌼

04/22/2023

Plot twist: You're nervous you won't be pre-approved to buy a home but end up being approved for a LOT more than you ever planned on spending. 🤯

This happens more often than you think. Because lenders consider more than just your credit score, it's not uncommon to find out you're pre-approved for thousands and thousands of dollars more than you ever dreamed of spending.

So what should you do?

It's tempting to throw caution to the wind and start looking at homes near your top dollar, but I always remind my clients to think about their lifestyle and spending priorities.

For example, do they go on an annual vacation with their family they need to save for throughout the year? Do they get their hair and nails done each month? Do they spend money on entertainment like going to the movies or trying new restaurants every weekend?

It may seem silly, but these "little" expenses add up every month, and if you really don't want to give them up anytime soon, you need to give yourself some margin in your budget so that you can keep up with your extra expenses.

Moving into a big, beautiful house becomes a lot less exciting when you can't afford to do anything outside of it. Your new home should bring FREEDOM, not make you feel captive to your monthly payment.

If you're planning on moving later this year, start making a list today where you track your expenses, both necessities and extras. This way, when you start the buying process, the budget YOU feel comfortable with is clear and you can buy a home with confidence (and keep up with your monthly balayage and blowouts!) 💇🏻‍♀️

04/21/2023

The school year is almost over but ask any teacher (or student!), this time of the year can feel like the longest!

Our teachers do SO much for the kids in Centerville and even if you don't have kids in school, you're benefiting from their hard work because they're making Centerville a better place to live. 🖤💛

Here are a few ways to support our local teachers this spring:

🧋 Coffee gift card - this one is a no brainer. You can text a quick Starbucks barcode to a teacher or deliver a local gift card to them so they can refuel without spending a dime of their own paycheck!

🥨 Restock snack cabinet - it's that time of year, snacks are running low but everyone is so focused on getting to summer they forget class supplies could be running low! A quick email to a teacher asking if they're low on anything in their classroom (snacks, glue sticks, markers, etc) will make a big difference!

💐 Deliver flowers just because - your local teachers and office staff juggle SO MUCH throughout the year. Taking the time to send a little beauty their way will encourage them and remind them how valuable their work really is.

💸 Send an email to your school secretary to see if you can donate money to someone's lunch account. They won't be able to tell you who it will go to but they'll be able to put that money towards good use and you'll make a difference in a local family's life!

✍🏽 Write a thank you note. To your child's teacher, to your local guidance counselor or principal, or go the extra mile and track down one of your favorite teachers that made an impact on your life! You will without a doubt be the reason for lots of happy tears 🥹

04/20/2023

When I think about my favorite vacations 🌴 (Gulf coast fans out there?), I can't help but think about how they've impacted the way I list homes for my clients.

Swipe through this post to see what I've learned through scrolling Airbnb and what lead me to not only book once, but want to book again every year after. ☀️

My Airbnb strategy for listing homes will not only have you wanting to order your favorite cocktail and sit by the pool (can I join you?), but it will hopefully leave you wanting to save this post for future reference so you can call me when it's time to list YOUR home someday!