Are you bombarded with unwanted emails? I was getting up to 20 sexually explicit emails per day. The sender(s) cleverly misspelled words in the subject line to get past filters (reversing or duplicating letters in words). Needless to say, I was getting fed up with these vulgar subject lines. I searched the internet to find if there was any way to report spam. Luckily I found that I could Report Spam to the Federal Trade Commission by forwarding unwanted or deceptive spam to spam@uce.gov.
I then diligently started forwarding all the disgusting emails to the FTC. I am happy to say that in a matter of days, THE SPAM STOPPED, at least for a couple weeks. The sender(s) then found a different technique and have started sending spam again. I am only getting 1-2 a day and am happy to say that the content of these emails are not as bad, mostly about viagra.
For me, it has become habit - I forward each and every spam to the FTC. Will you please join me in the effort to STOP SPAM?
PLEASE FORWARD ANY SPAM EMAILS to spam@uce.gov and be sure to include the full email header.
Tony Cannon wrote a post about HGTV's 25 Biggest Real Estate Mistakesand Greg Nino wrote a comment that I would like to respond to. Greg commented that he thought the number one should have been "not hiring an agent" (the number one was "not showcasing or staging your house"). I have read comments on other blogs and realize that others have the same misconception so I think it is important to clarify...
The program talked about MISTAKES. Most people don't make the mistake of not hiring a Realtor, but most sellers, at least in my region, miss the important step of not staging or showcasing their homes. When a home sits on the market and doesn't sell, who do they blame? Most times their Realtor. Before blaming their Realtor, they should look at their house, the product for sale, from a buyer's perspective and make sure it appeals to the broadest range of buyers possible, stands out from the competition and shows to its full potential.
Even if a product has the best salesperson in the world, if the product isn't perceived as worth buying, how can the salesperson market it successfully?
The same is true in real estate:
Even if a seller chooses the right Realtor, if they make the mistake of not showcasing or staging their home, their house is less desirable and will sit on the market much longer.
So in response to Greg's comment, I agree with HGTV, showcasing or staging the home is the number one MISTAKE from my perspective. What do you think?
HGTV aired a special presentation this weekend of the 25 Biggest Real Estate Mistakes people make when buying or selling their homes. In case you missed the airing here are the notes I jotted while viewing the episode. To cut down on the suspense I have reversed the list for you.
1. Not staging or showcasing your house
look at your house objectively, from a buyers perspective
appeal to the largest number of people
make minor enhancements
hire a stager to come in and arrange furniture
potentially increases price by 7% and reduces time on the market
best investment you can make
DON'T: show your house "as is"
DO: stage your home to maximize its best selling points
2. Setting your sale price too high
owners tend to be greedy - house is worth what others are willing to pay for it
if priced too high you are appealing to the wrong market - won't get buyers to come back even when the price gets down to the right price
look at comparables of SOLD homes - price in the middle of the comparables price range
once you reduce the price, it looks like something is wrong with the house
DON'T: set an unrealistic sale price
DO: research the comps to come up with fair list price
3. Buying what you want, not what you need
buying a house is an emotional experience - take the emotion out of it
look at your current space to see what you really need
make a list of needs and shop the needs
9 years is the average time we stay in each house - trade up a few times to get your dream home down the road
DON'T: let your emotions get the best of you
DO: make a list of what you really need from a home
4. Overlooking hidden costs
remember the cost of furnishing the home
costs to consider: insurance, property taxes, utilities
maintenance of a home averages 1% each year
DON'T: assume your mortgage payment is your only monthly expense
DO: think ahead and factor in other costs
5. Not getting a professional inspection
saving a couple hundred bucks on a home inspection can cost 10's of thousands later
they inspect things not visible to the human eye
owners may have patched problems so you can't see them
search American Society of Home Inspectors for a professional in your area
insist the inspection include a written report with photos
DON'T: skip the home inspection
DO: invest the money and hire a professional inspector
6. Falling for the first property you see
emotions can cause us to overpay for a property
look at what else is out there on the market
view at least 3 other properties
don't rush into it, sleep on it
DON'T: fall for the first house you see
DO: look at several homes before making a decision
7. Skipping the loan pre-approval step
knowing what cost you can afford helps in the shopping process
people take you seriously if you are pre-approved
some realtors only show if have pre-approval letter
DON'T: house hunt without a pre-approval letter
DO: get pre-approval to help you close the deal
8. Doing major renovations before you sell
won't recoup the investment of a major renovation
cost more than expect
take longer than expect
don't know if buyers will want your renovations
minor upgrades are good: example, increase curb-appeal
DON'T: undergo major renovations before you sell
DO: focus on small changes
9. Not being proactive at your closing
closing time can be hectic, you're stressed throughout process, you're excited to close, and may not be not thinking rationally
look at the closing documents ahead of time
know closing costs ahead of time (HUD 1 form) - 24 hours in advance
schedule in morning so don't feel so rushed
do a final walk-through before close
DON'T: go to your closing unprepared
DO: read paperwork in advance
10. Visiting a house only once before you buy
need to look at everything in house
may be different depending on day of week and time of day (noise, traffic, etc.)
drive by at dawn, dusk, midnight
DON'T: buy a house after only one walk-thru
DO: visit the house several times and at different times of day
11. Not setting a realistic budget
pre-qualify for a loan does not mean you can afford the payment
be realistic about your budget
should have equivalent of 6-9 months worth of mortgage payments in the bank
DON'T: budget for more than you can afford
DO: budget based on actual spending habits
12. Buying the most expensive house on the block
most expensive house on the block will have a smaller appreciation
takes longer to sell
DON'T: fall for the priciest house on the block
DO: find a house that will appreciate in value
13. Not realizing the time and effort in a For Sale By Owner
there is more involved in selling a house than you think
FSBO won't get on the MLS
you are not a professional and don't know how to sell a house
have to be willing and able to show the house whenever you are called
need lawyer at closing if FSBO
you can't know everything - take precautions
DON'T: think selling your house is simple
DO: homework and understand everything that's involved
14. Picking the wrong agent
treat it like a job interview
find an agent that lives in neighborhood you are interested in
referrals
attend open houses and observe how they interact with others
meet with agent in their office - see if they're organized, check out their working environment
look for best advocate
DON'T: choose a real estate agent at random
DO: take the time to find the right one
15. Believing every word of a real estate ad
advertising is meant to get you to view the house
cozy = little
as is = lots of work
up and coming = bad neighborhood
motivated seller = red light - may be reason behind why
if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is
DON'T: assume that every ad is fact
DO: learn to decipher real estate lingo
16. Buying without actually seeing the property
virtual tours and photos can be deceiving - wide angle camera
need to see in person to get true sense of the house
hire an inspector to look at property
DON'T: buy a house without seeing it in person
DO: have someone you trust examine it
17. Not thinking about resale
think about resale when thinking about an expensive remodel
don't "go too far"
personalized renovations may not appeal to others
DON'T: think short term when remodeling
DO: think about the long term resale potential
18. Failing to market your home in different ways
utilize all marketing possibilities
set up with Realtor from the initial signing of the listing contract
virtual tours, web, floorplan, radio channel as drive by listing
creativity counts
DON'T: market you home with just a "for sale" sign
DO: explore other marketing tools to sell your house
19. Treating real estate like the stock market
real estate experiences slower moving price shifts than the stock market
buy/sell does not happen much in real estate
DON'T: gamble on short term real estate investing
DO: buy a home for long-term investment
20. Waiting until spring to sell your house
best time to sell is based on personal circumstances
talk with your team of professionals
DON'T: wait until spring to put your house on the market
DO: emphasize your home's seasonal amenities
21. Trying to make the "hard sell" at an open house
don't be around when buyers are looking at your house
detracts and distracts a buyer
buyers are uncomfortable giving feedback to agents - feedback is to your advantage
DON'T: Stick around when potential buyers show up
DO: leave and let your agent show off your house
22. Thinking auctions equal a good deal
research comparables
look into the fees and charges of the auctioneer
check liens on the property
stay strict with budget, don't get wrapped up in emotions
DON'T: Let your emotions cloud your decisions at auctions
DO: research before you pick up that auction paddle
23. Not researching the neighborhood
location, location, location!
check out school system
make sure the amenities you enjoy are close-by
DON'T: Buy before researching the neighborhood
DO: Learn everything you can about the area and the amenities
24. Not providing easy access for showings
lockbox
available 8am-8pm
make sure there is readily available parking
DON'T: Make it hard for potential buyers to see your house
DO: Make your house easily accessible to potential buyers
25. Buying a house for its decor
don't confuse gorgeous with the right house for you
measure dimensions of new home and your own furnishings
think about your own lifestyle - look at functionality
DON'T: Buy a home because you adore the decor
DO: Focus on the floor plan and square footage
The episode will be aired on HGTV again on September 21, October 22, November 14 and November 15.
Do you watch HGTV? I confess - it's my favorite channel. I've seen advertisements for a new show, "The Stagers", premiering next Sunday. The DVR is already set and ready to record the show in case I miss it. I am excited to see how it portrays Home Staging. I must admit I am disappointed that some programs depict staging as putting time and money into renovations. Staging is not that extensive and is giving viewers a false impression. "True" staging of an occupied home creatively utilizes items that are already in the home and can cost as little as $80.
If you live in Canada, you may have already seen the first episode. If so, what did you think?
"The Stagers" premiers July 20, 200810:00 PM ET/PT
Have you clicked to view the recent video on the AR home page? I did and it was aFourth of July treat. Wow!! Those young girls are talented and they're mostly preteens!
I double-clicked the video image and it brought me to YouTube where I quickly found an even younger impressive 7 year old singing our national anthem. Anthony Gargiula even got applause before ending the song when he hit the high note of "free". He gets my applause too. If it was audio and not video I never would have bellieved the singer was a 7 year old!! Another Fourth of July treat of an impressive rendition of tour National Anthem!!
God surely has blessed these young ones with amazing vocal talent. Hope you enjoy their renditions of the "Star Spangled Banner".
The last WZZM13 Super Saver I helped with was such a success (top rated newscast of the month) that Derek Francis is doing another Super Saver segment dealing with your home. (Yea! Let's try to boost the real estate market!) This time, the segment covers "Inexpensive Ways to Add Value to your House". Last week, Derek called and asked if I would help with the segment. (Who'd have thought that I would make it on TV once, let alone a second time?) I jumped at the opportunity and also recommended he interview Kris, a real estate investor.
I know Kris and his experience updating houses since I have staged (with furniture) five homes that he has flipped. Like Kris, I keep up with products (including their pricing) along with current trends to better consult home sellers with the process of affordably updating their homes to sell faster. Also, as an interior decorator, I have fun helping homeowners select design elements for their homes whether building, remodeling, or merely making minor updates.
To shoot the footage for the WZZM13 segment we allmet at a house that Kris flipped and I staged (picture below). Kris walked through the house with Derek pointing out and explaining the many fixes that he put into the house. I then sat down and had a further conversation with Derek about changes homeowners should concentrate on first whether staying in their home or putting it up for sale.
The segment reveals many quick and inexpensive updates. Sorry, but I'll keep them a secret until the airing. If you know someone that wants to update their home through minor changes or to get their home ready for sale, you may want to tell them about the broadcast. The segment aires Thursday, July 3, during the 6:00 evening news and next Monday, July 7, during the 6:00 morning news. Hope to see you, and you, and you... (Remember Romper Room? Sorry, but I couldn' resist.)
I'd love to hear your 2008 success stories! Here are some of mine...
This house was under contract within a week of staging. Simply Staged has staged 5 houses for this a real estate investor.
This house sold to the first person that viewed it after it was staged and it had been on the market a few months prior to stage. The builder is a new builder in the area and wanted to take pictures for his website. The house sold so quickly he never got professional pictures but boy was he excited!
Here's a testimony from yet another happy seller: "Thank you so much for your assistance with the staging of our home in Kentwood. Prior to staging our house had been on the market for over 3 months and we only had one scheduled showing. After staging, we saw a tremendous increase in activity. Everyone had very positive comments. Most importantly, we now have a sale pending. Thank you again for all your help!"
I have several other success stories for 2008 but let's hear yours!!
Want to learn more about what downtown Grand Rapids has to offer in city living? The fourth annual Parade of Downtown Living is THIS WEEKEND. This is a great opportunity to view several downtown condominiums and to see how our city is growing and changing.
To start your tour, you may park in any of three lots for free:
City Lot Area 7 - south of Michigan and north of Pearl
Northwest lot behind Boardwalk Condos - enter off Mason Street between Ottawa and Monroe
Southwest lot adjacent to Fairmount Square - on Hollister Street just south of Cherry behind Greenwell
Once parked just look for one of the buses marked "Parade of Downtown Living". The buses run the loop every 20 minutes. This year there are city tour guides on each bus to familiarize you with our wonderful city and to update you on the various downtown Grand Rapids living choices.
The event is sponsored by Grand Rapids Magazine and National City Bank and all proceeds go to Dwelling Place. The cost is $10 per person and you may purchase a wristband at your first condo stop. The wristbands are valid for all three days of the Parade and are also good for discounts at other stops on the tour. Some participating restaurants will even donate a portion of your tab to Dwelling Place.
Have you ever visited the website Bad MLS Photo of the Day? If not, take a look and I can almost guarantee it will give you a chuckle. And you don't even have to be in the real estate profession to experience the humor.
As I scroll the pictures on the website, I begin to smile, then it builds to a chuckle, and eventually I find myself laughing out loud especially as I read the captions to the pictures. Then the laughter catches on and I find someone peering over my shoulder joining in on the fun. Isn't laughter a great gift we can share with others?
Take a look and see if it doesn't lift your spirits. I'd love to know your favorite.
This is my favorite: #391, it takes home staging a bit too far!
Photo Courtesty of Athol Kay's Blog: Bad MLS Photo of the Day.
Boy, have I been busy... Sorry for the delay in blogging.
Between Home Staging
, de-staging, Sunday School crafting, my aging mom, and my family, life has been a whirlwind lately.
Many of you have left comments to my blogs asking about Home Staging statistics. I have had the privilege of staging 29 vacant homes in my 3 years of staging here in the greater Grand Rapids area. From those stagings I have computed statistics based on the date of stage to the date of de-stage.
I wish I could access the MLS database to get information I need to formulate more specific statistics. Since I am not a Realtor and am only an affiliate member of GRAR, my fingertips cannot get me to the information that Realtors can access. I would love to be able to formulate stats about how long each home had been on the market prior to stage since many had been on the market 6 to 12 months prior to stage. I would also like to expand the stats to include list price at stage versus final sale price, days from stage to accepted offer, etc.
In the last 3 years, I have staged 29 vacant properties and here are some of the stats:
Average Staging Length: 91 Days
Median Staging Length: 87 Days
Minimum Staging Length: 27 Days
Maximum Staging Length: 208 Days
The homes that took the longest to sell were homes that Realtors commented should have been listed at a lower price to begin with.
Here is a list of sold properties that I staged this spring and have already sold:
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.
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