AW Realty Group

Fresh paint on the walls, professional staging and an asking price that ends in 999 — when you're selling your home, you'll do whatever you can to help it stand out and sell faster. Because the  National Association of Realtors is predicting modest growth  for the 2017 real estate market, as a seller you want every edge you can get. And on the heels of the popular Consumer Electronics Show in January, perhaps that edge is a smarter home. "Smart home features are designed to make homes more convenient, appealing, secure and energy-efficient — all of which are bonuses when you're trying to sell a house," says Geoff Lewis, president of  RE/MAX, LLC . "Sellers who want to move their homes faster may benefit from adding smart features that make their properties more appealing to tech-minded buyers." According to IHS Markit and CNBC, 80 million smart home devices were delivered worldwide last year. That's a 64 percent increase from 2015. Here are si...

Whether you have an upcoming open house or are simply trying to freshen up your home, try these suggestions for getting rid of odors from seven commonly smelly items. 1. Trash cans After rinsing out a stinky garbage can with soap and water, stash a few scented laundry dryer sheets at the bottom to absorb odor. 2. Freezers An old (clean) sock stuffed with coffee grounds can absorb the musty smell in your freezer. Coffee socks can also help de-mustify stale closets. Tie one to a hanger. 3. Litter Box Extremely porous activated charcoal is a big-time odor absorber. Pet stores sell versions made especially for pet odors. Keep it near the litter box. 4. Carpet When your carpet smells icky, try sprinkling baking soda. Let it sit for half an hour, then vacuum it up. 5. Dishwasher Who wants to use a dishwasher that never smells quite clean? Pour white vinegar into a dishwasher safe cup and stick it in the top rack. Run the machine through its cycle. Though your kitchen will s...

While house hunting TV shows tour the neighborhood, close the deal and throw a housewarming party in 30 minutes, real life is not as streamlined. If you're in the process of buying a home, here are signs it's time to call a realtor. 1. You believe everything on the internet While you can view tons of listings online, not all of the information is accurate or up-to-date. You'll see outdated comps, conflicting forecasts and different ratings. With access to the MLS and insight on properties about to hit the market, a Realtor will make sure you're considering  all  of the homes in your market that fit your criteria. 2. You're juggling a hectic schedule You don't need to spend time sorting through listings and contacting sellers. An agent will do the browsing so you only visit the homes that best fit your needs and price range. 3. The biggest thing you've negotiated lately was your kids' bedtime (and you lost) As professional negotiators with ye...

Is your home ready for overnight guests? Follow these suggestions to create the perfect guest room for friends and family. 1. Offer reading material A pile of recent magazines or a shelf of assorted books offers guests a way to wind down before bed. 2. Add flowers A simple flower arrangement adds class and color to any room. 3. Provide seating Make sure there's somewhere cozy for guests to sit if they need some alone time during holiday chaos. 4. Make wi-fi and ac power connection easy Leave a piece of paper with your internet server's name and password on the dresser so guests can easily access your wireless connection.  Add an AC power strip that is easy to access for charging. 5. Did they forget something? Fill a basket with sample-sized containers of essentials, like toothpaste, mouthwash and shampoo. 6. Add a luggage stand Put out a folding luggage stand where guests can prop their suitcases to avoid having to squat all the way down to the floor ev...

Thinking of selling your home on your own? Online listing sites may lure you into thinking that the process is simple. Take a few photos, buy a "For Sale" sign and wait for buyers, right? But the process is much more complicated than that. If you're considering selling your home on your own, here are a few sure signs you should call a professional real estate agent. 1. You're not sure what your home is worth Calculating the right price for your home is an art and a science. Price your home too high, and it can grow stale, sitting on the market. Price it too low, and you could leave money on the table. Agents have the most current information about how much comparable homes in your neighborhood sold for and how long they were on the market. Agents use their deep knowledge of local and national market factors and the nuances of your particular home to calculate the right price. 2. You're losing sleep because this sale will be the biggest financial transaction...

Demolishing your seventies kitchen and upgrading to stainless steel and granite can produce all kinds of happy feelings. It can also produce piles of materials you might not be sure what to do with. Here are a few ways to remove all those building byproducts. 1. Donate If your stuff's in half-decent condition, there's probably a drop-off donation center willing to take it. Habitat for Humanity has  a national network of home improvement stores  stocked by donations. They take everything from light fixtures and appliances to counter tops and windows. 2. Reclaim, reuse, recycle Roll up old carpet and use the  Carpet America Recovery Effort  website to find a company near you that will reclaim, recycle or reuse it. Check with your municipality to find out if they recycle any other types of construction material. The Construction and Demolition Recycling Association  can help you locate local companies that will take materials such as asphalt shingles,...

The list of famous people who kept journals is as diverse as it is expansive. C.S. Lewis, Ronald Reagan and even grunge rocker Kurt Cobain are all known to have kept a personal record of their lives. According to a recent Huffington Post article, the benefits of journaling are not exclusive to philosophers and creative geniuses. Here are a few ways writing daily can help you in life and in business: Achieving goals You can talk about your future plans all you want, but something about writing down your goals signals to your brain that it's a big deal, and you need to follow through. Journaling also provides an opportunity to brainstorm a pathway to get there. Emotional intelligence Writing down your frustrations helps you process them before you say something you'll regret. Once everything is out of your system, you can evaluate the situation with less emotion. Memory Once again, your brain picks up that if you're writing something out, it must be important. The mo...