Thursday, September 28, 2006
How to have a successful listing
Seven open house tips
1. Hire a cleaning service.
A spotlessly clean home is essential; dirt will turn off a prospect faster than anything.
2. Pay attention to the outdoors.
Mow your lawn, and be sure toys and yard equipment are put away.
3. Serve cookies, coffee, and soft drinks. It creates a welcoming touch. But be sure the kitchen has been cleaned up; use disposable cups so the sink doesn’t fill up.
4. Lock up your valuables
Lock up jewelry, and money. Although the real estate salesperson will be on site during the open house, it’s impossible to watch everyone all the time.
5. Turn on all the lights
Even in the daytime, incandescent lights add sparkle.
6. Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside
If that’s not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (a basement or bath), and let the salesperson know where to find them.
7. Leave
It’s awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you there.
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Make Your Home Irresistible: 10 Listing Tips
1. Add a touch of color
Use fresh or silk flowers to breathe life and color into the main rooms. A colored afghan or throw on the couch will jazz up a dull room.
2. Make the bathrooms feel luxurious
Put away those old towels and toothbrushes. When buyers enter your bathroom, they should feel pampered. Add a new shower curtain, fresh towels, and fancy guest soaps.
3. Does it smell good?
Set out potpourri or fresh baked goods for a homey smell. Make sure that there are no lingering scents from cigarettes or pets.
4. Help them envision living there
Set the table with pretty dishes and candles, and create other vignettes throughout the home to help buyers picture themselves there. For example, in the basement lay out a chess game.
5. Beautify the entrance
Buy a fresh doormat with a pretty pattern or a clever saying.
6. Make the rooms feel bigger
Take one or two major pieces of furniture out of every room to create a sense of spaciousness.
7. Accentuate counter space
Put away kitchen appliances and personal bathroom items to give the illusion of more counter space.
8. Lay logs in the fireplace
Or put a basket of flowers there if it’s not in use.
9. Depersonalize the rooms
Put away family photos, mementos, and distinctive artwork.
10. The lawn should sparkle
Turn on the sprinklers for 30 minutes to make the lawn sparkle.
One last thing: Beware of some real estate companies that have such a desire to get your listing that they overprice your home. A new listing priced right will have the best exposure to serious buyers and the highest chance of a quick sale. In todays market, buyers are shopping around and taking their time.
1. Hire a cleaning service.
A spotlessly clean home is essential; dirt will turn off a prospect faster than anything.
2. Pay attention to the outdoors.
Mow your lawn, and be sure toys and yard equipment are put away.
3. Serve cookies, coffee, and soft drinks. It creates a welcoming touch. But be sure the kitchen has been cleaned up; use disposable cups so the sink doesn’t fill up.
4. Lock up your valuables
Lock up jewelry, and money. Although the real estate salesperson will be on site during the open house, it’s impossible to watch everyone all the time.
5. Turn on all the lights
Even in the daytime, incandescent lights add sparkle.
6. Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside
If that’s not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (a basement or bath), and let the salesperson know where to find them.
7. Leave
It’s awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you there.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Make Your Home Irresistible: 10 Listing Tips
1. Add a touch of color
Use fresh or silk flowers to breathe life and color into the main rooms. A colored afghan or throw on the couch will jazz up a dull room.
2. Make the bathrooms feel luxurious
Put away those old towels and toothbrushes. When buyers enter your bathroom, they should feel pampered. Add a new shower curtain, fresh towels, and fancy guest soaps.
3. Does it smell good?
Set out potpourri or fresh baked goods for a homey smell. Make sure that there are no lingering scents from cigarettes or pets.
4. Help them envision living there
Set the table with pretty dishes and candles, and create other vignettes throughout the home to help buyers picture themselves there. For example, in the basement lay out a chess game.
5. Beautify the entrance
Buy a fresh doormat with a pretty pattern or a clever saying.
6. Make the rooms feel bigger
Take one or two major pieces of furniture out of every room to create a sense of spaciousness.
7. Accentuate counter space
Put away kitchen appliances and personal bathroom items to give the illusion of more counter space.
8. Lay logs in the fireplace
Or put a basket of flowers there if it’s not in use.
9. Depersonalize the rooms
Put away family photos, mementos, and distinctive artwork.
10. The lawn should sparkle
Turn on the sprinklers for 30 minutes to make the lawn sparkle.
One last thing: Beware of some real estate companies that have such a desire to get your listing that they overprice your home. A new listing priced right will have the best exposure to serious buyers and the highest chance of a quick sale. In todays market, buyers are shopping around and taking their time.
Steps To Improve Your Chances For A Quick Sale
When listing your property here are some tips that can make a big difference in being successful.
1. Hire a cleaning service
Clean homes sell more quickly and at a higher price. If you are not good at cleaning then it is better to hire a service.
2. Keep home fresh
Vacant homes can develop odors. Odors should never be masked with heavy scented perfumes, etc. Set out potpourri but nothing is better than fresh air. If you are living there, bake a pie before an open house.
3. Neutralize colors
Neutral colors appeal to more people, even though it may be trendy for dark colors. A fresh coat of paint inside and out does wonders.
4. Maintain the exterior
Trim the bushes and keep the lawn mowed. Sweep the driveway and walks.
5. Open house
Turn on all the lights and get rid of the pets. If you do not have a open house, but your agent is showing the property, tell him/her to arrive ahead of time and turn on all the lights, open the blinds and open all inside doors.
6. Walk the property
Walk through your property as though you were the buyer. Write down the positive and negatives. (i.e. New roof, clean, kitchen counter cluttered.) Correct the negatives and give your agent the positives for the listing sheet.
7. Identify the competition
Know the current conditions for your area. What price ranges are selling, current market inventory, upgrades and other incentives for neighboring properties.
8. Listing price
Don't go with an agent who is telling you that your home is worth way more than what other properties are selling for in your area. Remember, some agents may do this to get the listing and then continue to ask you to lower your price when there is not a sale.
9. Remove clutter
If you have extra items, furniture, etc. remove them and put in storage. This will make the rooms and garage look larger. A neat home will give the buyer a comfortable feeling.
10. Add positive touches
Fresh flowers, new towels and rugs in the bath room add a nice touch and put away small items that would otherwise create clutter.
1. Hire a cleaning service
Clean homes sell more quickly and at a higher price. If you are not good at cleaning then it is better to hire a service.
2. Keep home fresh
Vacant homes can develop odors. Odors should never be masked with heavy scented perfumes, etc. Set out potpourri but nothing is better than fresh air. If you are living there, bake a pie before an open house.
3. Neutralize colors
Neutral colors appeal to more people, even though it may be trendy for dark colors. A fresh coat of paint inside and out does wonders.
4. Maintain the exterior
Trim the bushes and keep the lawn mowed. Sweep the driveway and walks.
5. Open house
Turn on all the lights and get rid of the pets. If you do not have a open house, but your agent is showing the property, tell him/her to arrive ahead of time and turn on all the lights, open the blinds and open all inside doors.
6. Walk the property
Walk through your property as though you were the buyer. Write down the positive and negatives. (i.e. New roof, clean, kitchen counter cluttered.) Correct the negatives and give your agent the positives for the listing sheet.
7. Identify the competition
Know the current conditions for your area. What price ranges are selling, current market inventory, upgrades and other incentives for neighboring properties.
8. Listing price
Don't go with an agent who is telling you that your home is worth way more than what other properties are selling for in your area. Remember, some agents may do this to get the listing and then continue to ask you to lower your price when there is not a sale.
9. Remove clutter
If you have extra items, furniture, etc. remove them and put in storage. This will make the rooms and garage look larger. A neat home will give the buyer a comfortable feeling.
10. Add positive touches
Fresh flowers, new towels and rugs in the bath room add a nice touch and put away small items that would otherwise create clutter.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
SELLING? Appraisals are critical now
If you are selling in a buyers market, be sure that you understand what the suggested listing price consists of (if you are using a realtor). In a down market, if you price too high you may not sell in your time frame. Conversely, if you price too low you could leave some money on the table. Incentives to the buyer can help in getting your property sold on time, such as; assisting with closing costs, seller financing part of the loan, making major repairs, etc. If you are priced too high, the buyer may not be able to get a loan.
Many appraisers now take into account pending sales, current list prices, supply and demand, time on the market, price fluctuations, defaults and trustee's sales, incentives, and the market perceptions of real estate agents.
Many appraisers now take into account pending sales, current list prices, supply and demand, time on the market, price fluctuations, defaults and trustee's sales, incentives, and the market perceptions of real estate agents.
