This has been a very active "Spring Market" in Maryland's Baltimore suburbs. Every buyer I have worked with since January has found the home of their dreams only to be thwarted by multiple offers all coming in at the same time. One property, a hugely under-priced foreclosure, had 20-plus offers in 2 days! Buyers learn quickly that they need to be ready to jump when they see a home they like.
From the standpoint of a buyer's agent, when there are other offers coming in, we can't be aggressive in our negotiations and this puts the seller in the driver's seat.
There are several factors common with all of the homes that I'm seeing with multiple offers. If you are trying to sell your home and have had leukwarm buyer response so far, you need to rethink things and make some serious changes, such as:
Price -- if you are not getting a lot of showings, you may be over priced. In today's market, buyers want to feel like they are getting a "deal." There is a happy medium where the seller can still make money and the buyer can feel like they have not paid top dollar for the home.
Condition -- this is almost more important than the price. If your home is not extremely clean and clutter-free you will not sell quickly and you will sell for less than you had hoped. Is your carpet dirty or stained? Have you painted the interior walls recently? Do you have every closet stuffed with stuff? Is there grease on your stove? Are there dirty dishes in your sink or piles of laundry in the bedrooms? Does your house have an odor (even a not-so-bad odor can turn off buyers)? Have you trimmed your shrubs, mowed the grass and planted flowers outside? Does your basement smell damp and/or moldy?
Decoration-- the twin sister to condition, the way your home is decorated may make you very happy, but unless it's very neutral chances are it won't appeal to most buyers. The biggest buyer turnoffs are: wallpaper (especially if there is a lot and it is dated), strong colors on walls (orange is perhaps the least liked color on a wall, but any bold color will be a deterrent), photos and stuff stuck to the fridge, too much furniture in rooms (makes rooms appear smaller and adds to clutter), old appliances (if your kitchen is pre-1995 your home will take longer to sell and you will sell for less), dark paneled walls (an easy fix is to paint them a neutral color like off-white), and anything that shouts 1970, such as shag carpeting or burlap walls.
Marketing-- this is up to your agent and hopefully you are interviewing and choosing agents who have a definite plan for marketing your home (this is where the discount brokerages and FSBO's can't compete). No home on the market today should be without professional photographs and a virtual tour. I would like to emphasize "professional" here because I've seen so many homes where the photographs are dark, blurry and poorly done. One or two photos are not enough and homes that only have pictures of the outside seem to say "there's nothing worth showing you on the inside of this home."
Many homes have an oddity that keeps them listed longer than normal. Usually it's the condition. Are any of these surprises in your home -- bold colors -- dated wallpaper -- 20-year or older kitchens -- dark paneling -- shag carpeting -- slate entryways -- walls covered in burlap? These things can prevent a quick sale.
One home I showed recently had something I've never seen before. . .the family room floor was red brick! Full size bricks too. The listing had boasted about the updated kitchen, baths and carpeting and the photos made the home look very nice. . .but a brick floor? No wonder this one's been on the market nearly 2 years!
This spacious townhome has been updated and the seller is MOTIVATED! This is a great price for the Columbia area. End unit, 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, finished lower level, huge deck, quiet neighborhood, close to shopping.
Come see 8967 Footed Ridge, Columbia, Maryland 21045 ONLY $229,900!
Check out these videos to learn how you can find energy savings in heating your home, financinging a home purchase, the value a Realtor brings to your home sale, curb appeal and avoiding foreclosure with an explanation about short sales.
These videos are produced by MRIS. Click link below:
Eight Howard County high schools landed a spot in Newsweek's Top 1300 US High Schools. Only public schools were rated. Their rankings are:
Centennial 272
River Hill 298
Mount Hebron 754
Glenelg 965
Atholton 1037
Howard 1074
Wilde Lake 1172
Reservoir 1279
These rankings are based on a ratio of graduating seniors and the number of advanced placement tests taken by all students at the school in 2007. The 1300 schools in the list are in the top 5% if all public schools measured this way
There is a new program sponsored by the Maryland Department of the Environment's Bay Restoration Fund that will allow homeowners to upgrade their septic system to the most current technology that allows for maximum nitrogen reduction. Requirements are
filling out the application, and
following procedures to secure funding for installation.
Once approved, homeowners will receive a check from the Comptrollers Office that covers the entire cost (100%) as well as maintenance for 5 years. Call 1-800-633-6101 ext 4195 for more information and a free consultation.
In the centrally located community of Cedar Acres, this spacious 6 bedroom, 3 full and 1 half bath home is a beauty inside and out! As you enter the grand two story foyer you are welcomed into a colonial style open floor plan with gleaming hardwood floors. An extensive kitchen with center island and breakfast area opens out into a sunroom at the back with a spacious family room to the right boasting Palladian windows and a gas fireplace. A library, laundry room and half bath complete the main level.
Stairs from the kitchen and foyer meet at a landing and take you upstairs where you will find four spacious bedrooms and two full baths. The owner's suite is full of light with a sweeping cathedral ceiling and a lavish bathroom with ceramic floors, double sinks, a soaking tub and separate shower.
The fully finished lower level walks out to a patio and lovingly landscaped, fenced yard with a white peach tree and a persimmon tree. Stone walkways lead to a shed and around the side to the front yard. There are two sizable bedrooms with windows, closets, a full bath and a large L-shaped recreation room. Gas heat, gas hot water, Honeywell UV treatment system and 2-zone heating are among the many upgrades in this solidly built Altieri home. Convenient location near Town Center, shopping and easy access to Rte. 32. Top Howard County Schools.
After struggling for nearly 2 years with my Palm TREO which was increasingly getting more and more flakey, I am super pleased with my new Blackberry Curve -- what a great phone! I just "upgraded" and really, really like this little piece of machinery that does everything so easily.
People tell me that the Blackberrys are also sturdy. I had my TREO on the front car seat, took a curve and it slid off the seat. Phone froze and the techies at the Verizon store couldn't salvage it and had to give me a new phone. Fortunately it was under warranty, but I lost all of my contacts.
If you are thinking of getting a new cell phone -- give this fella serious consideration! Setting up my email was a breeze, too. I got it at Best Buy and they downloaded all my contacts off the TREO. . .eazy peazy!
Priced to sell! Single family home at a townhouse price. This large rancher has spacious rooms, gleaming hardwood floors and a gorgeous kitchen with all the bells and whistles. A short sale subject to 3rd party approval, this home is in move-in condition. Lots of parking and over 1 acre lot. Unfinished basement perfect for additional rooms or a workshop.
Dream kitchen with all new cabinets, stainless appliances, ceramic floor.
Hang your stockings here - wood burning fireplace in living room.
Tired of all the negativity in the media about the real estate market? Me too. This blog is for anyone who wants to learn more about real estate, buying and selling a home or investment property. Also features local information and news -- and some fun stuff too!
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.
Exterior 
Kitchen
Living Room 
Family Room
Last night at the Howard County Fair in West Friendship, Maryland - August 2008.
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