If you’re planning to sell your home this year, take a minute to review some of our best recommendations; AND if you had your home on the market this past year (or maybe longer??), don’t repeat mistakes from the past. These few suggestions are sure to be useful before you launch your next home selling attempt.
1. Buyers start mentally buying (or rejecting) a home from the minute they drive up. Make a good impression by having the outside ready to impress; attend to deferred exterior maintenance.
2. Once the outside is clean and fresh, focus attention inside. Don’t expect buyers to ignore dated wall coverings and dull paint. One of the least expensive fixes to a dated interior is fresh paint. If you have a steady hand, go ahead and do this work yourself, but don’t be forgiving of an amateur attempt – buyers won’t!
3. Look at your home’s interior spaces; really look! It’s critical to remove clutter & get organized. Don’t let your home tell buyers you’ve outgrown the space! This sends an immediate message that they will too. First, purge all the excess “stuff” you’ve collected. Next, rent a storage facility for all the little treasures you want to move into your next larger home. Believe me, it’s worth the expense.
4. Give your home the smell test! Don’t be forgiving of pet odors or any unpleasant odors for that matter – buyers won’t! A bad smell stays with a buyer, and it’s a very hard objection to remove from a buyers mind (and nose). Be sure to correct the problem and not simply mask it! Once your home is fresh as clean folded laundry (as my mother would say), you can find a nice fragrance to spray just before showings.
5. Bathrooms and Kitchens! I really can’t say enough about these spaces. If your home has dated baths and kitchen, and you’ve priced the home with that condition in mind, then please follow this rule: Clean! Clean! Clean! Buyers DO look inside your refrigerator and oven. Be sure these appliances, all appliances actually, are as clean as can be. Kitchen counter tops should have no clutter, refrigerators should be free from family pictures and art work and the table or eating surface should look inviting for a company meal.
6. Stairways to the second floor and basement must be free of items, and a hand rail should be in place for these stairways. Realtors hate to pick up broken bodies at the bottom of stairways!
7. It goes without saying, doesn’t it, that all closets are tidy. Fold towels in the linen closet, hang coats without crowding in the closet and contain hats and mittens in some way so they are not falling off a shelf.
8. Be honest with yourself and ask “Who priced the house”. Did you really get a professional Market Analysis from a real estate agent that did her homework? No amount of advertising, open houses and showings will ever sell an over priced listing. We in the real estate industry know this – for a fact! Price your home correctly, follow the above tips and your home will attract a new buyer.
9. Work with a real estate agent you like and trust. It’s not easy to sell homes, sometimes it’s down right hard, and it helps a lot to have an agent you feel comfortable with and know you’re with someone who “feels your pain”!
The “4forU” team wishes you a Happy New Year and a successful home selling experience in 2010.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
GETTING IT RIGHT IN 2010
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Tasty Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 12, 2009
REAL-LY EXCITING NEWS FOR REAL LIVING HER
Friday, September 25, 2009
TIME IS TICKING!
clipped from rebac.net
When Congress passed an $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers last winter, it was intended as a dose of shock therapy during a crisis. Now the question is becoming whether the housing market can function without it. As many as 40 percent of all home buyers this year will qualify for the credit. It is on track to cost the government $15 billion, more than twice the amount that was projected when Congress passed the stimulus bill in February. In the view of the real estate industry and some economists, all that money is well spent. They contend the credit is doing what it was meant to do, encouraging a recovery in the housing market that is gathering steam. Analysts say the credit is directly responsible for several hundred thousand home sales. Skeptics argue that most of the money |
Friday, September 4, 2009
Watching for signs!
clipped from www.dispatch.com
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Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival
clipped from www.ua-ohio.net Date: Monday, September 7, 2009 Welcome to the premier one-day arts festival in Ohio, the Upper Arlington Labor Throughout the day, you can peruse a variety of art media including ceramics, |
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Realtor Care Day 2009
June 10th. The focus was on Columbus Housing Project's North of Broadway Community (NoBo), located along N. 21st between Mt. Vernon Ave. & E. Long St. Area agents & affiliates spent the day creating a community green space garden & vegetable garden, fence removal/relocation & beautifying various homes in the area.
This was the 2nd year I have served on the CBR committee, and I am so impressed with the dedication of so many individuals who make this event possible. In particular, this year I would like to thank Janet Thiede who volunteered many hours of her time to make this dream a reality. It is very gratifying to be part of this program!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Pleasures of Prescott Place
Monday, February 16, 2009
FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS!
The latest report on the economic stimulus package is excellent news for first time homebuyers. It provides an $8,000 tax credit that does not have to be repaid and extends through Dec. 1, 2009. Unlike other proposals, this tax credit is fully refundable (claimable) regardless of an individual's tax liability. It is a true credit with no repayment provision!
This news, combined with historically low interest rates, should provide incentives to all first time buyers. Now more than ever, it's important to connect with a real estate agent who can present the myriad of opportunities for home ownership.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
RESIDENTIAL HOME SALES
"Yes, 2008 was a challenging year, but when you compare a 5 percent average price drop to other parts of the country, not to mention Ohio, it's clear why Columbus is consistently considered a stable market," said Gary Parsons, President of Columbus Board of Realtors
What about 2009? The key to returning balance to supply & demand is by reducing inventory levels which will lead to higher home prices. Historically low interest rates should prompt more buyers to return to the market.