Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Boost the Value of Your Home




Boost the Value of Your Home

Now is a great time to list your home!






  • The housing market is “hottest” from April through June, and the most serious buyers are aware of this and for that reason they begin looking in early spring in order to beat the competition. 
  • As the housing inventory grows from spring to summer, listing now will help you to avoid the competition of other properties on the market. 
  • One of the biggest obstacles for home sales in 2014 was the increased paperwork required by banks before a mortgage could be approved. As the market heats up banks will be inundated with paperwork causing a slowdown in the approval and funding process. Getting into the market early will help put your buyers ahead of that potential bottleneck.
  • Ready to move up to a larger more expensive home? The time for that could be now! Prices are projected to appreciate by over 19% from now until 2018. Additionally with current interest rates at about 4.5% purchasing now could save you money in the long run as rates are projected to be well over 5% by this time next year. 
Now that you’ve decided to list your home, let’s maximize its value and the return on your investment! Let’s get you home ready to sell for the highest price possible!
  • First and foremost clearing out the clutter.  Cost ranges for $0 (DIY) or up to $2,500 to have a pro do it for you.
    • Key ideas are to make your home feel open, spacious and full of natural light. This might require eliminating furniture from rooms, packing away knick knacks and or reducing the volume of family photos so that the potential buyers can envision their own family filling the warm and inviting spaces of your home. Any potential cost of a storage unit would easily be offset by the potential return of 3 – 5%.
  • Updating the Kitchen. Costs can range from $300 - $5,000, with a potential return of 3 – 7%.
    • Kitchens sell homes, it’s a well-known fact! However, that doesn’t mean you should dump thousands into a remodel. Focus first on minor repairs that can have a big impact. Making sure the primary fixtures such as lighting and faucets are good working order, as well as making any cosmetic repairs such as a counter top stains or damage, or a sink in need of reglazing. 
    •  Once you determined your kitchen is in good working order, think about a gentle spruce up, such as painting the walls, updating cabinet hardware or new window treatments. You’ll be surprised at how a few cosmetic changes can make your kitchen feel fresh and inviting. 
    •  If your kitchen is in need of a more substantial updating you may consider new counter tops and flooring which can be done for the $4 - $5,000 price range.
  • Freshen up the Bath. An investment of $300 - $1,000 can yield a potential return of 2 – 3%.
    • Just as important as the kitchen is the bath. This room speaks to buyers about how your home was kept up and maintained. Easy but effective fixes include caulking the tub or re-grouting the tile.
    • Likewise installing new fixtures (Towel bars, faucets, toilets, and the vanity etc.) will give the bath an updated and fresh feel. Don’t feel compelled to replace the entire bath, just look at it with a critical eye and determine what will have the most impact with the smartest investment of time and resources.
  • Paint – Selectively. Spending $100 (DIY) - $1,000 (Pro) will give a potential return of 1 – 3%.
    • Walk through your home and really look at, this will help you to determine which rooms can be spruced up with a good cleaning and which would benefit from a fresh coat of paint. Be conservative in your approach and only paint the rooms that will have a big impact such as the main living area or perhaps a bedroom that would benefit from a more neutral paint treatment. 
    •  Whites and off whites tend to attract the most buyers, a neutral pallet allows potential buyers to focus on the homes attributes and not the color of the walls.
  • Curb Appeal, it may sound cliché, but this is your home’s first impression! An investment of $150 - $7,500 can give you a potential return of 2 – 5%. 
    •  Start with basic maintenance, i.e. keeping the lawn mowed, trimming overgrown shrubs, and putting down a fresh layer of mulch. 
    •  Other cosmetic improvements to consider are power washing the exterior, fixing any siding boards that are not in top condition, and perhaps a fresh coat of paint on your exterior door. The idea is to give your home a fresh clean look without going overboard on spending. 
    •  Don’t forget the roof, buyers will ask how old it is, so if that’s something that needs updating or inspection be sure to have that done prior to listing to appease any concerns a buyer may have about the age of your roof.
Small changes can make a big difference in the final sales price of your home, but wise planning is important. Before listing your home I will complete a Market Analysis of your home and make suggestions on changes that can maximize the return on your investment. Call me today so that your home will be in the best possible position to capitalize on the current Seller’s Market climate!

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

There Are So Many Reasons to Love working with a Real Estate Professional




There Are So Many Reasons to Love working with a Real Estate Professional


Does it really pay to use a Real Estate Professional versus tackling the enormous task of listing and selling your own home? Yes, yes it really does, and here’s why:
  •  Paperwork. I could end this article right here. It’s a daunting task: offers, counter-offers, standard escrow closing dates, loan and inspection contingencies, removing contingencies, and if you manage to navigate all of this, there’s the Closing Paperwork… Wow! As an experienced agent working closely with the inspectors, lenders, escrow agents and the opposing agent, I will ensure the paperwork is complete and correct.  
  •  Experience. There are so many ways that experience plays into your real estate transaction. What’s the best price for your property? Where should you market it? How should you market it? What features of your home will most appeal to potential buyers? How should your property be positioned against other homes in the market and what other homes are even on the market in your area? As an experienced Realtor I will drive traffic to your listing, and I have the industry contacts to maximize its exposure.
  •  Negotiations. What’s reasonable to ask for, and to expect? What things can make or break a deal? Even just having the experience and confidence to stand firm at your price because as an experienced agent I KNOW that your property is worth what you are asking. It sounds simple but deals are won and lost in the negotiation. 
  •   Pricing. What’s the competition in your area? What are the comparable homes for sale in your neighborhood priced at? These are some of the questions I ask myself before I even shake your hand for the first time. Additionally, homes sold by Owners typically sell for $41,000 less than homes represented by a Real Estate Agent. Ultimately a Realtor represented property typically sells for 19% more than those listed by owners.
  • Understanding of Current Market Conditions. This includes such factors as when is the best time to list, what financing is available in the marketplace and how is that affecting home prices.  
  • Time: For Sale By Owner (FSBO) listings take, on average 19 more days to sell. That’s money out of your pocket. And 20% of FSBO listings end up being re listed on the MLS which converts to an average of 68 days longer on the market than Realtor represented properties.
  •  Ease of Transaction: Despite For Sale by Owner kits being available online, the total number of property sales by FSBOs has dropped from 20% to 9% in the last decade. And 70% of FSBOs said they had a significantly difficult time selling. Challenges included (in addition to understanding and performing paperwork) getting the right price, preparing the home for sale, helping the buyer obtain financing, attracting buyers, and closing the transaction within the desired time frame.
The bottom line is that as an experienced agent I can relieve a tremendous burden from the process of selling your home, while also maximizing your selling price and getting your home sold more quickly.

Thinking of listing your home? Call me today so that I can show you firsthand the advantages of listing with an experienced and customer service focused agent.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Utilizing a knowledgeable and experienced Real Estate Agent can help you avoid Buyer's (or Seller's) Remorse.



Utilizing a knowledgeable and experienced Real Estate Agent can help you avoid Buyer's (or Seller's) Remorse.

39% of buyers, given the option, would rethink their current home purchase! When you consider the magnitude of a home purchase, the time and effort to find that "perfect" home, the negotiations between buyers and sellers, and the time spent in the closing process, 39% is a staggering figure. whether you are purchasing your first home, an investment property, a vacation home, or using your equity to move from a starter home to your dream home, an experienced and knowledgeable Realtor can make an enormous difference. Your Realtor must navigate the housing market like a pro, finding the right listings, and obtaining the best purchase price, delivering your dream home to you.

In that same regard your Selling Agent's role is just as important! Your gem of a home filled with happy memories and sentimental moments deserves the greatest possible exposure and the opportunity to be found by a buyer who will fall in love with your property and never look back. An experienced and qualified Selling Agent knows how to market your home and will expertly feature its best assets so that potential buyers will flock to your property and create the type of demand that leads to competing offers and a maximum return on your investment.

When marketing your home I will consider the following:
  • Is your home in Prime Condition?
    • i.e minimize clutter, you want potential buyers to appreciate the spaciousness of your home. This means closets too, buyers want to feel that the home has plenty of storage and room to grow into.
    • Limit personalization: Family pictures are wonderful and should be included to help buyers envision their family living there, that said, personal pictures should be an accent to your home and not the focal point. Additionally paint and carpet choices should be able to appeal to a broad range of buyers.
  •  What do you love about your neighborhood?
    • As an experienced Realtor I know the features of your area inside and out, but you live there. Think about the things that you wish you knew when you moved into the area, maybe some locals only, tucked away, restaurants that are fabulous. Or local businesses whose attention to customer service excels past big box chain stores. Or perhaps a secret walking path, or scenic area  that you love. Any detail that would appeal to a buyer could be a deal changer and will help them "long" to be in your area which can translate into a higher offer.
  •  Advice on staging your home.
    • With over 10 years of Real Estate experience I can offer you professional suggestions to help show off your home's best assets. Using your existing furnishings we can ensure that your home looks cozy, comfortable and inviting.
Even worse than Buyer's remorse is Seller's remorse. My commitment to you is that you will love every step of our transaction, from listing to the close of escrow. I take great pride in exceeding your expectations. For me, there is no greater satisfaction than giving a new set of keys to my buyers or a check to my sellers.



Thursday, February 5, 2015

Why it Pays to List With an Agent






 Thinking of listing For Sale By Owner? Stop and consider this first. It is a lot of work and you end up losing much more in the deal than you would spend on commission.


To find out more about the current state of the housing market and what you can get for your home, call me today!