advice for sellers: Baby Boomers Series ~ Cleaning Out the Attic
- 02/03/12 01:04 AM
In the Baby Boomer Series, I am going to address topics that pertain to people of my generation--baby boomers who are planning for the next steps in their lives. Baby Boomer Series ~ Cleaning Out the Attic Contrary to conventional wisdom, at least in my opinion, the most important step is not deciding where or how one wants to spend his or her retirement years; the most important step is CLEANING OUT THE ATTIC! Regardless of whether you plan to stay in your home, move across town, or relocate to the sunny south, you must clean out the attic. If you are like … (36 comments)
Every year, right around Thanksgiving, I am asked the same question: Should I put my house on the market during the holidays? Actually, people usually say something more like: Now isn't the best time to put my house on the market, is it?
Of course, sellers have already assumed that the holiday season is NOT a good time to try to sell their homes, and they are looking for agreement from me. I don't agree with them, and here is why:
Less Competition Many people don't want … (10 comments)
Have you been thinking about putting your home on the market this winter? Maybe you have to sell now; maybe you want to beat the spring rush. If you live in the colder climates, you know that winter is a challenging time to sell a house. And if you have experienced our recent freak October snowstorm that brought thousands of homeowners to their knees with massive power outages, you are painfully aware that it won't be easy to make someone fall in love with your house in the winter.
If you are thinking about putting your home on the market (or maybe you already have your home on the market), there is one question you must ask your REALTOR® or any agents that you are interviewing for the job:
What do you think my home will sell for?
Notice I didn't say,"What should I list my house for?" but "How much will it sell for?" You will get (hopefully) an honest opinion of the most likely price for your house. It may not be what … (77 comments)
advice for sellers: You Have Stainless Steel Appliances ~ Big Deal!
- 09/26/11 07:28 PM
You Have Stainless Steel Appliances ~ Big Deal! Over the weekend, I showed three houses to potential buyers and the third one was the one that prompted this blog. The MLS listing sheet proclaimed that there were new stainless steel appliances and the pictures of them were prominently displayed. After the showing of this house, all we could say was "Big Deal!"
In some cases, stainless steel appliances are the icing on the already delicious cake. Buyers do like stainless steel appliances, and when they see new shiny appliances they know that there will be one less thing they … (7 comments)
If you are thinking of putting your home on the market next year (yes, some people think that far in advance), you MUST take pictures of your yard now!
I have recently talked to several potential clients who are thinking that they will be putting their homes on the market next spring. They are spending the time (wisely) to do everything they can to get their homes in tiptop shape so they can get the most money for their home in the least amount of time.
Kitchens are busy places, and the cabinet under the kitchen sink can be difficult to keep clean. But if you are thinking about putting your house on the market (or maybe it already is on the market), think about giving that cabinet an overhaul. 1) Take everything out and throw out anything you no longer use. You might find old dog biscuits that your dog doesn't even like, half-used containers of dishwasher detergent, or a flashlight with corroded batteries. 2) Wash down all the walls and floor. The floor of the cabinet under … (11 comments)
This morning, as usual, I was checking out all the expired real estate listings in the areas I serve. One of expired listings had a picture taken in winter, complete with snow on the roof, as the main picture!
What does this tell you? That the agent doesn't care enough about your listing to upload a current picture. Is it any wonder that the listing expired? What else was not done to sell the house?
When buyers (and their agents) see a house that has been on the market a … (8 comments)
advice for sellers: It's Easy to Give Advice...But Not So Easy to Take It!
- 03/13/11 11:21 AM
It's easy to give advice, but it's not so easy to take it! As Realtors, we often give out advice so that people can sell their homes more quickly and for more money. We advise people to de-clutter, clean, and make repairs before putting their homes on the market. We advise them to remove personal items, paint in buyer-friendly colors, and rearrange or store their furniture to appeal to buyers. When they finally do receive offers on their house, we advise them to put their emotions (once again) on the back burner and think in terms of their goals.
In the Baby Boomer Series, I am going to address topics that pertain to people of my generation--baby boomers who are planning for the next steps in their lives.
;)
;)
