Donna's Blog

The Easy Curb Apppeal Face Lift

2007-10-28T23:13:24Z

The house in these photos was a very nice house, but my seller needed to get top dollar because he had to move before he had much equity. I had to pull out a grand slam. The interior of the home was awesome, but the exterior needed a face lift. He fought me on the red door, but I convinced him. I shopped for all of the items, and was down in the dirt planting, spray painting, and doing a lot more physical labor than I generally do on a house. I even planted the flowers. It was an investment but it paid off. The home sold in a week for more money than anything else in that neighborhood had (or has since) sold for!

In the Before Photo on the Left, The porch railing is blah, the wooden railing at the front is blah, the awning is dingy, the door is plain and blends too much with the house, there's a flag bracket, but no flag; the windows look plain, although not fully shown the flower beds were non -existent, just some shrubs, no color. It was July, we needed some pizazz.

In the AFTER photo on the right, you can see that we painted the door red, I spray painted the hardware, mail slot and house numbers with brass spray paint, I purchased window boxes and planted with bright red geraniums. We painted the bottom hand rail white, and just cleaned up the top one and gave it a fresh coat of paint, we power washed the awning, we put flower pots on the stairs, as well as in a big pot beside the porch, we planted flowers in among the shrubs for a splash of color and we added the flag.

Although the home appears brighter we didn't paint or wash it. The light may be different in the photos, and I definitely think the contrast of the red against the white makes a huge difference to the eye.

Four "after stories" that go with this house: 1. I represented the seller, but I got another listing from the BUYER'S sister! She was so impressed with the way the home was presented when she viewed it with her sister, that she called me to list her home, rather than her sister's Realtor, 2. I got another listing from someone driving by who saw me planting flowers, 3. I kept the window boxes and flag for future staging efforts. 4. I listed the seller's dad's house

See my accompanying post on The Front Door Ten Point Inspection Test for Home Sellers

Copyright 2007 Donna Batdorff Associates, Your Way Realty

Featured Listings

The Front Door Ten Point Inspection Test for Home Sellers

2007-10-28T22:54:55Z

In my book there's only one way to enter a home with buyers: through the front door. It always amazes me when we have to go around back or through the door that comes in by the basement stairs. Even worse, through the garage. What kind of an impression does that make?

A home-seller should always get a key made for the front door if they don't already have one. Then, before listing do the 10 Point Front Door Assessment Test:

1. What is the approach like? Walk in good shape? Curtain and drapes look nice?

2. Is the screen door in good repair? Does the screen itself need to be replaced?

3. Is the front door itself in good condition and is the paint in good shape and a good color for the house and popular taste?

4. Is all hardware in working condition and clean and attractive looking?

5. Is all trim and the threshold in good condition and is paint in good shape?

6. Are any light fixtures outside in good shape, clean, no broken glass?

7. Are house numbers in good condition?

8. Look at the windows on the front of the home. Are they clean, are drapes of one color? Are there any bent blinds or crooked shades to distract?

9. Is there a doorbell? Does it look good and does it work. Cracks me up but everyone tries the doorbell!

10. Is the entryway once inside the home inviting, light fixtures working, clean and floor in good shape.

EXTRA POINTS:

Nice flower arrangements

Window boxes

Door decor

American Flag

It's the first impression, so make it a good one!

See the accompanying post, The Easy Curb Appeal Face Lift

National Association of Realtors President to Speak at WCR meeting Nov. 8

2007-10-27T23:51:36Z

As President of the Western Michigan Chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors, I am excited to announce that Pat Vredevoogd Combs, National Association of President will be joining us at our November meeting.

As Pat's home chapter, of which she is still a member, we are honored to have her come and speak about the importance of WCR in forging a leadership career in real estate, as well as give us her views on the real estate market today.

WCR is open to everyone: men, women, Realtors, and affiliated industries which includes anyone who might want to network with Realtors.

Because it is a luncheon meeting, reservations are necessary. Cost is $16 for members, $20 for non members. The meeting , which takes place in the banquet room at the Grill at Watermark on Cascade Road, begins with networking at 11 am, program starts at 11:30 and ends at 1 pm.

In addition to Pat's talk, the educational program will be "You Mean I Can Deduct That? Tax Tips for Realtors." Presented by Kathy Sheldon of Walker, Fluke & Sheldon, PLC.

The meeting is generously sponsored by Coldwell Banker, AJS Schmidt Realtors who is our Double Platinum Sponsor, and Marsha Veenstra of State Farm Insurance, who is our meeting sponsor.

To attend please contact me, Donna Batdorff or Debra O'Brien.

Proofread Twice, Post Once

2007-10-27T19:08:16Z

You know the old carpenter's addage: Measure twice, cut once?

Same thing holds true with blogging! My apologies for the obvious hic cups my keyboard seems to have had on the title of my post on Short Sales!! It turned out to say Sshortsaleshortsales....That tops my normal typographical errors by a mile! (I just found out I can EDIT and fixed it!)

Just to make myself feel a little better, here are some other typographical errors to enjoy:

Reprinted from www.basicjokes.com

NEWSPAPER ERRORS

A newspaper is a daily marvel, even a miracle. There are 1,730 of them published daily in the United States with a combined circulation of nearly 62 million. Limitless possibilities exist for error, human and mechanical. Add the crushing pressure of deadlines, and it's surprising there aren't more mistakes.

When goofs do occur, editors scurry to print corrections, even though we often prefer the misprint to the corrected version.

Here just a few samples:

1. IMPORTANT NOTICE: If you are one of hundreds of parachuting enthusiasts who bought our Easy Sky Diving book, please make the following correction: on page 8, line 7, the words "state zip code" should have read "pull rip cord."

2. It was incorrectly reported last Friday that today is T-shirt Appreciation Day. In fact, it is actually Teacher Appreciation Day.

3. There was a mistake in an item sent in two weeks ago which stated that Ed Burnham entertained a party at crap shooting. It should have been trap shooting.

4.From a California bar association's newsletter: Correction -- the following typo appeared in our last bulletin: "Lunch will be gin at 12:15 p.m." Please orrect to read "12 noon."

5. We apologize to our readers who received, through an unfortunate computer error, the chest measurements of members of the Female Wrestlers Association instead of the figures on the sales of soybeans to foreign countries.

6. In Frank Washburn's March column, Rebecca Varney was erroneously identified as a bookmaker. She is a typesetter.

7. There are two important corrections to the information in the update on our Deep Relaxation professional development program. First, the program will include meditation, not medication. Second, it is experiential, not experimental.

8. Our article about Jewish burial customs contained an error: Mourners' clothing is rent -- that is, torn -- not rented.

9. In the City Beat section of Friday's paper, firefighter Dwight Brady was misidentified. His nickname in the department is "Dewey." Another firefighter is nicknamed "Weirdo." We apologize for our mistake.

10. Just to keep the record straight, it was the famous Whistler's Mother, not Hitler's, that was exhibited. There is nothing to be gained in trying to explain how this error occurred.

11. Our newspaper carried the notice last week that Mr. Oscar Hoffnagle is a defective on the police farce. This was a typographical error. Mr. Hoffnagle is, of course, a detective on the police force.

12. Yesterday we mistakenly reported that a talk was given by a bottle-scared hero. We apologize for the error. We obviously meant that the talk was given by a battle-scarred hero.

13. In a recent edition, we referred to the chairman of Chrysler Corporation as Lee Iacoocoo. His real name is Lee Iacacca. The Gazette regrets the error.

14. Apology: I originally wrote, "Woodrow Wilson's wife grazed sheep on front lawn of the White House." I'm sorry that typesetting inadvertently left out the word "sheep."

15. In one edition of today's Food Section, an inaccurate number of jalapeno peppers was given for Jeanette Crowley's Southwestern chicken salad recipe. The recipe should call for two, not 21, jalapeno peppers.

16. The marriage of Miss Freda vanAmburg and Willie Branton, which was announced in this paper a few weeks ago, was a mistake which we wish to correct

ANYWAY, I'll be more careful in the future!

The "short explanation" on Short Sales

2007-10-27T18:47:08Z

We take a lot for granted as real estate professionals. We think that a name implies specifically what something is...and of course that's not the case, and we should be taken to task onit whenever we use jargon a seller doesn't understand.

When I have mentioned "short sales" to people in casual conversation or in a consulting situation, I often get the question: "What's that?"

Here is the "Short" of what a short sale is. This is not meant to be a comprehensive explanation, by any means. And there can be a lot of twists and turns involved, but this will at least get the wheels turning to consider if a short sale might be an option for you or someone you know.

Short Definition of a Short Sale: - When the lending institution is willing to take less for a payoff of the property than what is owned.

STEPS FOR THE REALTOR AND SELLER TO ACCOMPLISHING A SHORT SALE

1. In a short sale the seller will get out from under the debt of their home, but they will not be able to walk away from the closing with any money. It is a last ditch effort to save them from foreclosure or ruined credit and they have to understand the implications.

2. Determine if the property is a candidate for a short sale by finding out what is owed and what the bank might realistically accept

3. The Realtor and/or Homeowner can call the lending institution and find out who their short sale person is

4. The Realtor and/or Homeowner should find out what forms need to be filled out to be a candidate for short sale

5. The Realtor should help the client as best they can to get these forms filled out. This is an easy place to get bogged down because the forms are tedious and it's not a pleasant task.

6. Once the bank approves the client for a short sale, list the home as soon as possible at a new price. It's probable the bank won't give a dollar figure of what they are willing to accept, but if possible list the home within $10000 of what is owned on it. I recently sold a home on which $135000 was owed. I listed it for $125000. Got a bid of $127000, the bank insisted on $129000, which means they netted about $122000 after all fees were paid out.

7. Be SURE to put in your listing that the property is subject to short sale approval. (It is possible that you will get an offer and the bank will not accept it. Unfortuantely sometimes it is a bit of a guessing game until you actually have an offer to put in front of the bank.)

8. If you get an offer, the Realtor needs to call the bank contact and discuss it, don't just fax it over and expect it to be looked at

9. Be persistent. The Realtor should call daily if necessary. The homeowner can also stay involved. Staying on it is the way to make it happen. Be nice. Present the circumstances with empathy when speaking to the bank to help them remember this is a person they are trying to help.

10. The Realtor should prepared to negotiate a bit with their compensation if necessary. We all hate to do it, but it doesn't seem quite fair that we get paid our full commission and the seller walks away with nothing.

Cardinal rule in every step: Follow up, follow up, follow up. If there was ever a time NOT to trust email, voice mail and faxing this is it. The Realtor needs to develop a relationship with the short sale expert at the lending institution and this is one time when having the seller involved to plead their own case might be helpful too.

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(CLIP ART ROYALTY FREE, COURTESY OF FOTOSEARCH)

A Short-Sale Thank You Dinner Out

2007-10-27T17:54:36Z

This blog will serve two purposes! Restaurant Review and Story of a Successful Referral Sale and Happy Client

THE RESTAURANT PART

Last evening I was out at the Bonefish Grill in Grand Rapids, Michigan, engaging in one of my favorite activities: eating. If you've never been to a Bonefish Grill (there are a few around the country) it a great place to try. And you've got to try the bang bang shrimp. It's, as they say, to die for. My recommendation, if you're with just 1 other person: get the bang bang, and split a main course. The problem is, everything is so good that you probably will order too much like we did and take part of it home.

The reason this particular dinner was so special though is what I want to share with you.

THE HAPPY CLIENT PART - IT ALL STARTED WITH A REFERRAL THAT ENDED IN A SHORT SALE

A few months ago I got a real estate referral from an agent named Bobbi Schick who works with Keller Williams in Barrington, Illinois. Bobbi diidn't know me, but found me through one of my listings. The daughter of a friend needed help selling her home in my area. I went and viewed the home and it was a home that needed some TLC, as we say in the industry. After a few months on the market and after every showing getting the same feedback: "It needs too much work." I called the bank and began to see if we could negotiate a short sale.

Long story short, we did just that. Repriced it, negotiated it, and got it sold. The client was thrilled, and Bobbi was so happy I'd been able to help her friend's daughter that she sent me a gift certificate for the Bonefish Grill with a wonderful thank you card.

It's always nice when we get testimonials from our clients, but to get a thank you from another Realtor, one who referred to me, was really a treat.

I also got a thank you card from the home seller, who in spite of the fact that she didn't realize a penny from her sale, felt like I had helped her save her credit and get a new start on life.

I am humbled that she felt this way. She wrote: Donna, I want to thank you so much for being a great Realtor. Thank you for your hard work and perseverance with such a difficult sale. I appreciate you sticking with it. I will highly recommend you to anyone in need of a Realtor in Michigan. Thanks again. God Bless. Nancy

Short sales are becoming more and more prevalent and can be a very good solution for someone who owes more on their home than they can get for it. If you want more information on this, until I have time to blog about how to put together a short sale, please contact me.

ACCOMPANYING INFO FOR THIS BLOG:

Bonefish Grill
1100 East Paris Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
(616) 949-7861

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