home sellers: Seller do you have an environmental issue? fix it before listing your home for sale. - 09/24/11 11:58 PM
Seller Do you have an environmental issue? fix it before listing your home for sale
I ran into this issue twice in the last 2 months. Sellers listing properties with potential environmental issues.
One of the major concern is a buried oil tank. To properly abandon the tank you need paperwork showing that the work was done correctly. Telling a buyer you filled it with sand, is not good enough. What if there was a leak in the tank and the ground was contaminated? Don't expect a buyer to take on this responsibility, cleanup can be extremely expensive.
What a … (7 comments)
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home sellers: The most important tip for home sellers today - 09/22/11 11:52 PM
I have what I consider the most important tip for home sellers today.
I look at market data around the country, however I can only address the market in which I operate. People I run into in my daily activities comment on the numerous for sale signs in various neighborhoods. Many of the signs have been up for a rather long time. For some their lives is at a standstill because all their equity is tied up in their home, and they are watching it slip away as the months go by.
There is a saying "everything sells at the right price". … (22 comments)
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home sellers: If I list my house in the Fall could it sell? - 09/05/11 10:25 PM
Fall officially begins September 23rd however in real estate September starts the Fall selling season. A very common question asked by sellers is: If I list my house in the Fall could it sell?
The quick answer is yes it could. Some home buyers find it easier to concentrate on buying a home once the children are back in school. These buyers are usually looking for a home in the same area but might need to get a larger home.
If your home is listed during the Fall you are more likely to get serious buyers. These buyers are usually looking to … (8 comments)
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home sellers: My agent did not bring me a buyer and should be fired - 07/23/11 10:48 PM
My agent did not bring me a buyer and should be fired.
Many who have their homes listed often wonder why their listing agent did not personally bring them a buyer.
There was a time here in the Mid-Hudson Valley when it was the norm for a listing agent to be the one bringing the buyer because that would be person the buyer would call.
Times have changed and more and more buyers seek to get their own representation, commonly referred to as a Buyer’s Agent. Buyer’s Agents, as the name implies, will look out for the interest of … (58 comments)
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home sellers: What Do You Think When When You See A Sink? - 10/20/10 03:44 PM
Karen Kruschka passed on some words of wisdom for both agents and sellers. Karen has over 34 years in the real estate industry so you know she has seen a lot.
In this post I love her explanation of what you could tell about a house by an observation of the sink.
Via Karen Kruschka - Prince William, Fairfax ,Stafford County VA Real Estate Service (RE/MAX Olympic Realty):
Most people, myself included, form an opinion about a home as soon as we pull up in front. I have to be careful I don't convey mine to my client. After all, over … (7 comments)
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home sellers: What is your advice to sellers caught in the real estate dead zone? - 09/23/10 10:58 PM
What is your advice to sellers caught in the real estate dead zone?
I don't need to tell you what the state of the economy is just take a look around. Today, many home owners are frustrated as they watch their home languish on the market.
Looking at market reports for many areas I see the the majority of the home sales are on the lower end of the market. Those with cash or those fortunate enough to qualify for a mortage seem to consider short sales or foreclosures over some of the resales on the market.
So, what advice can you give to a seller … (42 comments)
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home sellers: Oh I get it you don't believe me so get it appraised! - 07/15/10 08:55 AM
Oh I get it you don't believe me so get it appraised!
It should not be a big surprise that there are still home sellers who have not caught up with the market.
If you are a listing agent you might be asked why is my property not getting shown, or how come the price reduction didn't work?
The truth is, the market has shifted and is nothing like we were accustomed to just a few years ago. I really feel for home owners who need to sell, especially those who bought at the height of the market and now find themselves … (75 comments)
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home sellers: A showing that can tick off home sellers. - 01/15/10 11:32 PM
Most of the time we focus on the issues a home buyer might have. On the other hand home sellers do have gripes and with good reason.
Here is a list of things that can really irritate a seller.
Not leaving a card or signing the showing book Forgetting to lock the door and turn off the lights. Making an appointment yet failing to show and never calling. Parking cars on lawn Tracking dirt on to carpet Using toilet and failing to flush Agent showing up without an appointment Failure to give feedback on showing Agent not doing what was promised by … (36 comments)
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home sellers: Did you miss the news flash? - 12/05/09 01:51 PM
If you are a listing agent at one point or another you have encountered these words
I need to sell my house for $xxxx because..
This is all the money I have to retire on I need it to pay off all my bills I want to get a new place and still have some savings. These are all needs that many of us have.
NEWS FLASH!
Here is a list of people to whom this need does not matter:
The buyer The buyer's lender The Appraiser It is all about value. Have you heard this phrase, " A house is only … (16 comments)
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home sellers: Sellers stop shooting yourself in the foot. Have that Broker's Open House - 11/08/09 06:41 PM
Wednesday is a typical Broker's Open House Day in Dutchess County NY. Agents can find these open houses by looking on the Multiple Listing Service; although, not all agents make use of this tool. Most agents will send out email invitations and now and then you will get a direct phone call.
Last Wednesday I saw several homes and each was a different style and price range. I got to thinking about those sellers, although they are in the minority, who refuse to have any sort of open house; to me that is like shooting themselves in the foot.
So here … (9 comments)
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home sellers: Dear Home Seller: So, you are offended? - 06/23/09 08:46 AM
In some of my previous market reports I gave tips to sellers as to how to gain a competitive edge in this challenging market; one of the tips was: Do not take offense if a buyer makes a low-ball offer.
The present real estate market in the Dutchess County area is what is called a buyer's market. Properties are on the market longer, the inventory is large and there are fewer buyers.
You can imagine how surprised I was when one of my buyers placed an offer and the seller was so offended that the consideration of a counter offer was … (84 comments)
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home sellers: So where is the oil tank? - 05/01/09 10:51 PM
These days we are more aware of environmental issues. In some areas the practice of putting the home heating oil tank underground was very common. Today, if your heating oil tank is underground and you are thinking of selling your home this could be one of your selling expenses. New York State does provide a homeowner's guide for underground heating oil tanks
When taking a listing this is a subject I cover with the seller. We discuss the various ways this issue could be addressed and sometimes will get a few estimates. My suggestion is that the seller address the issue before … (26 comments)
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home sellers: A Year Has Gone By And My House Did Not Sell - How Come? - 12/19/08 04:05 PM
A Year Has Gone By And My House Did Not Sell - How Come?
Due to the nature of real estate (most of us need to live somewhere) many properties sold this past year, although not as many as a few years ago. The market this year has presented many challenges, such as, the credit crisis, and both resales and brand new homes had to compete with foreclosures and short sales.
So how did some sellers manage to sell in this market? Here are a few tips:
They made sure their property was priced correctly right from the very beginning. They were more aware … (27 comments)
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