The article below by Lindsey Hasford is great advice for any home seller. If you have wondered what you need to do to prepare for putting your home on the market, here are "Ten things to remove before listing".
Everyone has heard rumors of de-cluttering when it's time to sell your home. But, what does that really mean? Before going hog wild and moving out... here's a few of the most important things to consider removing before you list your home for sale.
10. Personal photos. I don't always recommend removing photos of the 'family' but if you have hallways filled with photos or photos on every end table it is probably necessary. Buyers really DO get distracted by them. They will take them all in as they walk down the hall. Not only do they take away from the home, but it's really disturbing when a buyer is excited to 'know' the sellers. And, the buyers do look at them.
9. Bills and personal papers. I understand that you cannot remove these document from the home all together, but please take the time to organize them, box them up and put them out of sight. If you have bills laying out on the counter or kitchen table it's like an invitation for the buyers to 'peek' at them. Believe me - I discourage it - but it still happens. And as a seller you just don't want to leave the temptation behind.
8. Money. I would love to say that every buyer (and Realtor) going through every home is honest, but I really don't want to test those waters. If you have cash, cash boxes or coin jars sitting out in the open... put them away. It's just better for everyone if it's out of sight. As Realtors we do what we can to protect your home, but your help makes a difference!
7. Valuables. Jewelry, watches, valuable antiques.... anything that might be worth a bit of money that you wouldn't want to lose. Out of sight, out of mind. If buyers don't know they are there they won't think about it. I can't tell you how many homes I've been in where the jewelry is left on the dresser.... somehow it's uncomfortable. At least put it away.
6. Guns and ammo. I don't care if they are in a case or out laying around or under a bed. It's better if you just plain old remove them from the home prior to listing. For some reason they make buyers (in my experience) feel really insecure.
5. Shoes! If you have a pile of shoes at the door... ask yourself why. A pile of shoes gives a buyer two impressions. The first? That there isn't enough storage in your home. 2. That there are too many people living in the home. So, in order to avoid wondering on the part of the buyer... just put them away.
4. Medicine. Take it out. Don't store it on the counter. Don't store it in the cabinet. Don't store it in the bathroom. Remove it. There have been many complaints over the years of potential buyers 'stealing' the medicine out of the cabinets. I have never had it happen on my time clock, but to avoid any trouble it's best to simply remove it.
3. All things on your kitchen counter. Everything? Really? Yup. The cleaner you can leave the counter, the more buyers dream of being in there. Have you ever been in a cluttered kitchen? Does it feel inviting? How about a cleaned up kitchen? Does it make you wanna spend time there? Also, if you store things on the counter it gives the appearance that you do not have enough storage space.
2. No more junk drawers. Seriously. Clean 'em out. There is nothing more tacky than a potential buyer opening the cupboards and drawers and having things sticking out everywhere. Box up all the notes, pens, tacks, and odds and ends and put them away. Chances are you don't dig in the drawer often anyways.
1. Nothing but magnets.... and maybe not even that. Take a photo of your fridge, take everything off, wash the front (and side), and take another photo. It is really refreshing to walk into a home that has a clean fridge. The kids pictures are beautiful (believe me... my fridge is covered in them) but buyer's can't imagine their own children's drawing on there if it is covered with yours. And, the magnets... If they aren't decorative (and even then) they are generally more of a distraction to the room than a help. Consider it.
There are many more ways to declutter a home for sale... but these are some important things to consider. For more information on selling your home in Minnesota... give me a call.
In the meantime... if you are looking to move into the area... I'll wait for you to call!
Selling Real Estate in Minnesota!
If you are looking for professional real estate services I am only a ring away! I am looking forward to working with you. And, please feel free to share my name with anyone that you know who needs assistance buying or selling a home ~ I love referrals! Lindsey Hasford, REALTOR Coldwell Banker Vision 231 Main Street - Elk River - MN 55330 763-241-5488 (office) 763-218-1347 (cell) lindseyhasford@coldwellbankervision.com http://www.hasfordhomes.com
Market Report on Homes for Sale in Whittier, CA – January 2, 2012
This Market Report on Whittier Homes for Sale will focus on Single Family Residences in Whittier, California. It does not include condominiums or Multifamily Residences.
As of today, there are exactly 431 homes for sale in the Whittier area, and 374 of them are Single Family Residences.
113 homes were sold in the City of Whittier during the month of December. Over the past three months, 310 homes were sold in Whittier.
The average Whittier home sale price in December was $322,972, at an average cost per square foot of $226.01.
265 Whittier homes are currently in Backup or Pending status.
Homes are taking an average of 93 days to sell in this market.
It would take 3.3 months, at the current rate of sales, for all the current Whittier homes on the market to sell.Technically a Sellers’ Market is when there is less than 5 months of supply.At 3.3 months absorption rate, Whittier is clearly in a Sellers’ Market.Despite these technical statistics, homes that are not in top condition or priced to sell, simply will not sell, and will sit on the market for months.
According to Realtors® Property Resource, median home values declined in 2011 for all Whittier zip codes from December 2010 to December 2011.
It is clear that we are in a declining real estate market.So, if you are thinking of selling for top dollar, the sooner you sell, the better.
Thank you for reading the above Market Report on Whittier Homes for Sale. If you like my blog, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed to get the latest Whittier real estate news.
It is clear that we are in a declining real estate market.In an interview on On The Edge (discussion starts at 19:40 in the interview), Karl Denninger of Market-ticker.org has predicted that housing prices may fall another 50% or more over the next 2-3 years.“My expectation is that over time, the deflation in housing prices and the deflation in that sector, along with most other sectors, is going to continue.I don’t think that there is any bottom anywhere in sight in the United States.The foreclosure mess is still there. The holding of assets with unrealistic values is still there; and until we see that start to clear out, we’re not going to be able to find out where a bottom actually is.But it would not surprise me, over the next 2 or 3 years, to see another 50% come off house prices in the United States alone.”When asked to clarify if he meant another 50% move down in real estate, Denninger said, “Entirely possible, and possibly more…”
How would a 50% decline in home prices affect an average home in Whittier?According to Realtors® Property Resource, the average home value in Whittier’s zip code 90603 is currently $363,000.If values decline 50% in three years, such an average home would then be worth only $181,500. So, if you are thinking of selling for top dollar, the sooner you sell, the better.
A further decline of 50% in home prices would be disastrous for the economy.Counties and municipalities would have their property tax revenues slashed, which means they would further have to cut jobs.Some may even declare bankruptcy.More businesses would falter and close, leading to more unemployment.
Denninger is not the only one who predicts falling home prices. Over the last year, every zip code in Whittier has seen a decline in home values.
Zip Code
Median Price Chg
90601
-7.8%
90602
-11.0%
90603
-8.5%
90604
-8.5%
90605
-10.1%
90606
-9.7%
It is clear that housing prices need to be in line with what the average wage earner can afford.In the 1950s and 1960s, it only took one wage earner to support a family, and that included the ability to make the payments on a home loan.Today, due to declining wages, it typically takes 2 wage earners to support a family; and often there is not enough money to pay for a mortgage.The only way real estate prices can go up is if wages and salaries increase across the board.Today’s unemployment statistics show that, as more competition for jobs increases, wages are driven lower and lower. CNBC's Diana Olick talks about the high levels of homes that are underwater, including California, which has over 2 million.
I don’t know what will happen in the future.I do believe prices will decline further; I just don’t know how far they will decline.The status of the world economy is far too complex to discuss here; and perhaps far too complex for anyone to really know.
What would such a fall mean for someone who wants to buy a home right now?It depends on the reasons for buying.It may still make sense, if it would cost more to rent a home than to buy one; and if you plan to live in the home for the next 10 years or longer.
I have given a lot of thought as to how it would affect my business, and come to the conclusion that no matter what happens, people always need to buy or sell homes; and it is my job to help them during those transactions.I cannot decide for them whether to buy or sell, but I can help them once they make a decision.
This Market Report on Whittier Homes for Sale will focus on Single Family Residences in Whittier, California. It does not include condominiums or Multifamily Residences.
As of today, there are exactly 500 homes for sale in the Whittier area, and 433 of them are Single Family Residences.
92 homes were sold in the City of Whittier during the month of November. Over the past three months, 302 homes were sold in Whittier.
The average Whittier home sale price in November was $336,379, at an average cost per square foot of $225.00.
275 Whittier homes are currently in Backup or Pending status.
Homes are taking an average of 98 days to sell in this market.
It would take 4.7 months, at the current rate of sales, for all the current Whittier homes on the market to sell.Technically a Sellers’ Market is when there is less than 5 months of supply.Currently, Sellers have the edge, although Whittier real estate market has been in a neutral market for the past year.
Thank you for reading the above Market Report on Whittier Homes for Sale. If you like my blog, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed to get the latest Whittier real estate news.
Today I edited and uploaded a video tour of two Whittier homes for sale that are great bargains.
None of these Whittier homes is a Foreclosure, Short Sale, Bank Owned Home, REO, HUD Sale or Auction.They are standard sales of great properties.What makes them the buys of the week?Check out the video to see.
Thank you for reading the aboveVideo Home Tour of 2 Bargains in Whittier's Michigan Park. If you like my blog, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed to get the latest Whittier real estate news.
Thank you for reading the blog post about 8035 Euclid Avenue, Whittier, CA 90605. If you like my blog, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed to get the latest Whittier real estate news.
Prudential California Realty is the Whittier home for collecting Toys for Tots by the U.S. Marines Corps.Every year, the U.S. Marines come by our office to pick up toys as part of their Toys for Tots program.
The Marines will be picking up all of the toys on Wednesday, December 15, 2011 at Noon at the Prudential California Realty office at 16218 East Whittier Blvd., Whittier, CA 90603.Click here for a map and directions.
We will have a large box at the office, just waiting for your Toys for Tots.The Marines are looking for a few, good, unwrapped gifts for boys or girls.
Please make sure to bring your toy to our office before December 15.If you can’t make it to the office, just give me a call, and I will drive to your house to pick up your toy donations.
This Market Report on Whittier Homes for Sale will focus on Single Family Residences in Whittier, California.It does not include condominiums or Multifamily Residences.
As of today, there are 543 homes for sale in the Whittier area, and 474 of them are Single Family Residences.
103 homes were sold in the City of Whittier during the month of September.Over the past three months, 300 homes were sold in Whittier.
The average Whittier home sale price in September was $339,631, at an average cost per square foot of $225.07.
289 Whittier homes are currently in Backup or Pending status.
Homes are taking an average of 97 days to sell in this market.
It would take 4.6 months, at the current rate of sales, for all the current Whittier homes on the market to sell.Technically a Sellers’ Market is when there is less than 5 months of supply.Currently, Sellers have the edge, although Whittier real estate market has been in a neutral market for the past year.
Thank you for reading the aboveMarket Report of Home Sales for Whittier, California. If you like my blog, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed to get the latest Whittier real estate news.
Have you thought about what it takes to get a home sold?
Well, it's not just one thing, but a combination of several different aspects of home selling that must come into alignment that will cause your home to sell.
Thank you for reading the above article askingBring Your HOme Into Full Alignment to Get it Sold. If you like my blog, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed to get the latest Whittier real estate news.
Bob Willis, of Prudential California Realty in Whittier, is a real estate agent who was born in, works in and markets real estate in Whittier, California, and surrounding communities, including La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Santa Fe Springs, Norwalk and Hacienda Heights.
FREE REPORT: How To Buy Lovely Homes In Whittier with Zero Down Payment ... Click here
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
Please make sure to bring your toy to our office before December 15.
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