For Sale!

10 Ways to Make Your House More Salable

Selling your home is not as easy as putting a sign in your yard, running an ad, and the phone starts to ring. It takes work on both parts of the team - you and your REALTOR®. Under legal representation it is the duty of your legal real estate agent to keep your best interest in mind by making sure you are protected in every legal step of the transaction from start to finish; to bring prospective buyers to your marketed property and present it currently available for sale, as well as provide tours and advertisement to showcase your property alongside millions of other properties for sale, and deliver the value so your property is ranked at the top of it's class. An excellent REALTOR® will ensure your home is always in show condition, which is where your part comes in. According to statistics, key deals are made from first impressions, followed by location, price, and value. Not all 4 have to be happening at the same time, or at all. What does need to happen is a good, clean, presentable product is on the shelf, and ready to buy. You, the seller, are the keeper of this product, therefore, to keep it ready show is key in the success of your sell. Check out some tips base on buyer consumer feedback:

1. Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.

2. Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.

3. Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.

4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.

5. Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

6. Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they'll give buyers the impression that the house isn't well maintained.

7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.

8. Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9. Clean your gutters.

10. Polish your front doorknob and door knobs.                                                                                                                           

Before I was licensed, I bought several homes as a consumer.

Above I picked, from a very long list, the best tips that made an impact both on my buying experience, and on the the buyers statistics mentioned above. I will help you determine what needs to be show-cased, and what it will take to get your market property show-ready.

DESIGNATIONS

• Licensed MN REALTOR®
• Member MAAR (Minnesota Area Association of Realtors)
• Member NAR (National Association of Realtors)
• 10+ years knowledge with Investment Property Valuation
  
• Bachelor of Science in Web Design & Interactive Media (Art Institute of Pittsburgh) 2008-current
  
• Associates of Art Graphic Design & Animation (CCC, New Mexico) 1994
  
• Provide valuable resources for special funding programs
• Educated in Short Sale and Loan Modification process
• Continue education quarterly to keep current with Laws affecting Real Estate consumer rights
• Rates are flexible with different percentage and marketing options

I was born in Glendale AZ on Luke AFB. My dad retired in Albuquerque NM at Kirtland AFB. When I was 18 they moved to Clovis NM, home to Cannon AFB. I attended Clovis Community College when my daughter was 1 and my eldest son was on the way. I had all 3 kids by the time I had obtained my Associates in Graphic Design & Animation; I went on working towards my Bachelors in Computer Animation & Graphic Design, but decided to put my school aside for a bit to have more time with my new family.

While I was 'on break', I went on to keep myself polished in the 'sales & marketing' field. I held jobs that involved telemarketing (phone skills), door-to-door salesperson (prospecting) and Kiosk selling (networking). I learned from the best early on how to ask for the sale, when to ask for the sale, and what to ask for the sale. While the jobs themselves did not pay much, the value they instilled in my toolbox is priceless.

Because I grew up in a family of investors I've always had a good understanding of Real Estate. My parents became investors and rented out many properties to military and working families. This is where I gained my military bylaws for housing and home buying experience; I learned about property investment knowledge through my parents and their experiences.

I have been working in the Sales & Marketing industry now for over 15 years. 11 of those years I have been a resident of Minnesota. Over the past 4 years I have gained extensive Minnesota Real Estate Knowledge-2 of those years through my administrative assistance to 16 Top Producing Real Estate agents, also great mentors.

Every year since 2005 I continue to stay educated in current laws regarding the new frontier of this ever-changing real estate market. As you saw in my designations above I am a member of The National Board of Realtors (NAR), an association that is mandatory for an ordinary 'agent' to be dubbed a REALTOR® and therefore considered credible and responsible to practice Real Estate under the 'Code of Ethics', outlines and policies of NAR's membership protecting the consumer and keeping integrity of our members at the broker reciprocity frontline, steering the transaction straight to the finish line with all legalities intact.

Jantelle on the left in the green shirt with JoJo, her best friend, at one of many July 4th festivals popular all over Minnesota

Family

3 Kids - all grown - almost ; ) I have a 21 year old daughter in nursing school. My youngest is 18 and set to Graduate! My how time flies...While the days of plays and parent school meetings are soon to be gone, I look forward to their college days and watching them become loving, caring adults. Still, I don't look forward to rolls of bills turning into receipts of worthless paper...but, that's life, and in the end it is always worth every tear, penny, and roller coaster of emotions...I am truly blessed.

	Billy, the youngest of the bunch, is now a Senior! HOORAY! He is bright and full of excellent jokes - a great trait for college! He is also good at pushing buttons.
Aaron - front and center - just graduated and is college bound this year  It was a hard road for him, but he kept on keepin on, and he keeps on goin...Way to Go Aaron!

 

 

 

In the way of marketing I continue to stay current with the most recent software and marketing strategies so that the techniques I use, including web design and Internet marketing, both which are highly used in this day and age by the house-hunting consumer, are guaranteed to make an impact on them when buying or selling Real Estate. My marketing techniques have proven to get faster response resulting in less market time for the seller, and a larger database with more detailed information for the buyer - I make sure it's a win/win for everyone.

Working with military families is natural for me - in fact, as we move forward on the new frontier, one of my specialties will be assisting returning military personnel in finding the home that suits their family, pocket and lifestyle for years to come. I look forward working with you too.

Sincerely,

Carla J. Holt-Spahr

Please call me anytime  763-219-8918 or email me cjosieholt@gmail.com

Carla J. Holt-Spahr

www.superspahrhomes.net