home selling: Little Things Mean Alot! - 03/15/14 06:41 AM
Even though the market in my area seems to be moving along, due mainly to a low inventory, the homes that are missing that certain something are still being passed over. The brightest and shiniest are going pending in 1-2 weeks, while those that are lacking that certain something are sitting. All seem to be priced higher than they should be, but the difference is in the details. It's still those little things that mean alot to buyers. Ignoring the smallest details can cost a seller thousands-even in what seems to be a seller's market. Those pesky details include the following:
… (4 comments)

home selling: To Paint, Or Not To Paint? - 08/18/11 07:22 PM
Whenever I look at a potential listing, the subject of paint is sure to come up. Either the homeowner has already painted, and the walls are fresh ready to go, or I make the suggestion that a fresh coat of paint will do wonders in making the home feel new. Recently, I walked-through a potential new listing and made the suggestion that a few rooms needed painting, along with the basement. The rest of the home looked updated and beautiful- shouldn't the basement look great too?
There is an ethical issue that comes into play where painting is concerned. There is … (5 comments)

home selling: It's Sliding Down The Hill, But It Looks Great! - 05/19/10 03:43 PM
The house was lovely! An older home that had an addition put on across the back at some point in time. The front of the house was loaded with character. The old doors, windows, and gorgeous woodwork were to die for.
The addition across the back was more modern. Someone had added on a beautiful kitchen with tile, very nice cabinets, and a stairway leading to the 1/2 story on the top. A great house with one problem- the older front half of the home decided to divorce the new part. This house was splitting in the middle, and the front … (5 comments)

home selling: The House Looks Fine, But How Does It Feel? - 03/31/10 03:50 AM
My husband and I looked at quite a few houses before we settled on the house that we currently own. During that process, we saw several that could have worked for us. They were nice enough, but some were a little too dark, or felt cramped, or just didn't seem right in some other way. When I walked into my house, the rooms were spacious and it was bright. Even though it was vacant, it still felt very right for us-like home.
Last year, I received a series of e-marketing pieces from a lady who provided a very unusual service. At … (7 comments)

home selling: Will Your Home Be Pending, or on "The Pile"? - 08/01/09 10:19 AM
With over 14,000 properties for sale in the Greater Cincinnati area, it is easy for listings to get relegated to "the pile" of inventory for many reasons. Here are some tips so that you can avoid being thrown on the pile (and what a deep pile it is).
1. Be ready to price your home appropriately. Avoid insisting on a price based on emotion, what you paid for the house, or what you need out of it. In many areas, you are competing with foreclosures and short-sales. They make up the market, so be prepared to demonstrate your value.
If your … (7 comments)

home selling: Who Is Selling Your Most Expensive Investment? - 05/21/09 10:11 AM
Recently, I received an interesting e-mail from a potential client. Her home had expired from the market, and I had sent her some information about what I would do to market her home. Although she did not contact me by phone, she sent me the equivalent of a pre-interview via e-mail.
In that e-mail, she introduced herself, mentioned that she was considering several agents for the job of marketing her home (including me), and asked the following 5 questions:
 
1.What is your commission and would you be willing to negotiate with it?2.Are you a fulltime realtor or is this a … (6 comments)

home selling: House Story: 5779 Willnean Drive - 04/10/09 03:29 PM

It is a stunning contemporary in Miami Township that has been perfectly maintained by the owners. The curb appeal is unbelievable, and it is just as perfect inside as it is on the outside. What an entrance! The custom stone walls create a dramatic entrance to the front door. Flowers are in bloom in the garden area between the stone walls and the tiered deck off of the formal dining room. As you take each step, you are surrounded by beauty.
The owners have lovingly maintained this home from the time of purchase. They have been careful to keep every … (2 comments)

home selling: How the Grinch Stole My Knick Knacks. - 02/24/09 12:11 PM
So he wasn't the Grinch, but he came to my home with boxes-lots of them. He walked into my home with my Realtor (at that time, I was not an agent), she introduced us, and then she left us to do "our work."
He was "the Stager" and he began by taking a tour of my home. We ended our tour where we began-in the kitchen, and he instructed me to start assembling and filling boxes. He climbed up and pulled baskets, vases, and other trinkets from off of my partition wall that separated the kitchen from the great room. That … (10 comments)

home selling: List My House in the Fall-Are You Crazy? - 10/28/08 07:13 AM
I know that Fall and Winter are supposed to be the "off season" in Real Estate, but I think that there are some advantages to having your home on the market during those seasons. As someone who had a home on the market until after Thanksgiving several years ago, I have experience to back up my claims. Here are five reasons why I think that it can be good to list your home in the "off season":
 
1. The inventory of homes on the market is lower. You will not be competing against quite so many homes.
 
2. The … (6 comments)