17 Mistakes Most Sellers Make When They Put Their Home on the Market
Pricing your home too high: Have a professional determine comparable sales and listing competition within the last six months. You want top dollar, and you want all the buyers to see your home. The top agents know how to walk that fine line.
Not investing in small repairs to provide fast sales: Have a professional give you low-cost solutions to minor repairs that will yield big profits. I arrange for a professional inspection for my sellers so we are actually selling “pre-inspected properties”, which is another reason why I get more showings for my sellers.
Not considering other financing terms (besides cash): Have a professional give you options that may be better than cash for you, the homeowner, and financing options that excite a buyer.
Market Timing: Have a professional determine if the market cycle is poised to net you the most money. At least ask to be shown how you make profits in a down market. There are opportunities in good and bad markets.
Provide easy access for showings: There are many ways to show a home. Appointment only is the most restrictive; lock boxes are the least restrictive. Have a professional help you determine which is best for your lifestyle.
Stage your property correctly: Can you put items in storage? Create more light or music? I and my team can help you with ideas, a handyman, or designer. We have the experience and ‘know how’ to make your property a better value every week.
Choose the right REALTOR®: If your home didn’t sell last time, make sure and get it right this time with someone who knows the market and how to create a customized marketing plan to bring top dollar. That would be me! I have been in the business since 1987.
Don’t believe that selling property is seasonal: Do not base selling decisions on the seasons. Property is always selling. In fact, in the traditional “off times” there is less inventory and, therefore, more activity on individual properties as a result.
Pricing their home too low: One reason to hire me is to make sure that no money is left on the table. We will make sure all of the features and benefits are not only brought out in a real world marketing campaign, but also that you get paid for them.
Re‑evaluating the marketing plan every 10 days: The market, you, and your property require intuitive changes on a regular basis. I will recheck the market every 12 days to see how the trend is going.
Believing the agent is not doing the job: Do you know that 80% of buyer activity comes from signs and the MLS? Even the most mediocre agent can bring these tools. So if you lack showing problems look at your price, terms, and staging first.
Ignoring first impressions from the buyer: Sales are often hampered by unkempt lawns, cluttered closets; unpainted front doors; hard‑to‑work locks; dead light bulbs, bad colors, stains, unlit areas, and unusual smells. Spend time on the little things; double up on your gardener, keep things cleaner than usual and “marshal” the pets. Understanding you still have a life, I will give you a simple list of small items to consider.
Not giving the sales effort enough time: You should never give too little time to something that is inherently a long process. Estimate the time you have to sell and then add some time so that you are never put in the position of having to do something based on deadlines. I can help you with the average time on market in your area in your price range.
Dealing with unqualified or unsavory characters: One of the best reasons to hire a real estate professional is they have the ability to pre‑qualify a prospect before valuable negotiation time is lost. More importantly, they have the tools to discover if a prospect’s motivation to see your home may be other than purchasing a house. Understand that I use a team approach in achieving your goals as a seller.
Believing they are powerless to make a difference: Top agents in the industry report that sellers themselves are responsible for one out of six sales. You can network with your business and personal friends, hand out flyers to your personnel department, and keep the house “ready to move into.” Your professional real estate agent should be ready to hand out all sorts of easy assignments to make the “team effort” successful.
To Test the market: Never put your property on the market unless you really want to sell. I will market and sell your home at the best possible price.
Not setting up expectations with their agent: Your agent needs to guarantee how fast the return phone calls are made, how many websites your home will be on, numbers of showings, and a myriad of other goals.
Pricing your home too high: Have a professional determine comparable sales and listing competition within the last six months. You want top dollar, and you want all the buyers to see your home. The top agents know how to walk that fine line.
Not investing in small repairs to provide fast sales: Have a professional give you low-cost solutions to minor repairs that will yield big profits. I arrange for a professional inspection for my sellers so we are actually selling “pre-inspected properties”, which is another reason why I get more showings for my sellers.
Not considering other financing terms (besides cash): Have a professional give you options that may be better than cash for you, the homeowner, and financing options that excite a buyer.
Market Timing: Have a professional determine if the market cycle is poised to net you the most money. At least ask to be shown how you make profits in a down market. There are opportunities in good and bad markets.
Provide easy access for showings: There are many ways to show a home. Appointment only is the most restrictive; lock boxes are the least restrictive. Have a professional help you determine which is best for your lifestyle.
Stage your property correctly: Can you put items in storage? Create more light or music? I and my team can help you with ideas, a handyman, or designer. We have the experience and ‘know how’ to make your property a better value every week.
Choose the right REALTOR®: If your home didn’t sell last time, make sure and get it right this time with someone who knows the market and how to create a customized marketing plan to bring top dollar. That would be me! I have been in the business since 1987.
Don’t believe that selling property is seasonal: Do not base selling decisions on the seasons. Property is always selling. In fact, in the traditional “off times” there is less inventory and, therefore, more activity on individual properties as a result.
Pricing their home too low: One reason to hire me is to make sure that no money is left on the table. We will make sure all of the features and benefits are not only brought out in a real world marketing campaign, but also that you get paid for them.
Re‑evaluating the marketing plan every 10 days: The market, you, and your property require intuitive changes on a regular basis. I will recheck the market every 12 days to see how the trend is going.
Believing the agent is not doing the job: Do you know that 80% of buyer activity comes from signs and the MLS? Even the most mediocre agent can bring these tools. So if you lack showing problems look at your price, terms, and staging first.
Ignoring first impressions from the buyer: Sales are often hampered by unkempt lawns, cluttered closets; unpainted front doors; hard‑to‑work locks; dead light bulbs, bad colors, stains, unlit areas, and unusual smells. Spend time on the little things; double up on your gardener, keep things cleaner than usual and “marshal” the pets. Understanding you still have a life, I will give you a simple list of small items to consider.
Not giving the sales effort enough time: You should never give too little time to something that is inherently a long process. Estimate the time you have to sell and then add some time so that you are never put in the position of having to do something based on deadlines. I can help you with the average time on market in your area in your price range.
Dealing with unqualified or unsavory characters: One of the best reasons to hire a real estate professional is they have the ability to pre‑qualify a prospect before valuable negotiation time is lost. More importantly, they have the tools to discover if a prospect’s motivation to see your home may be other than purchasing a house. Understand that I use a team approach in achieving your goals as a seller.
Believing they are powerless to make a difference: Top agents in the industry report that sellers themselves are responsible for one out of six sales. You can network with your business and personal friends, hand out flyers to your personnel department, and keep the house “ready to move into.” Your professional real estate agent should be ready to hand out all sorts of easy assignments to make the “team effort” successful.
To Test the market: Never put your property on the market unless you really want to sell. I will market and sell your home at the best possible price.
Not setting up expectations with their agent: Your agent needs to guarantee how fast the return phone calls are made, how many websites your home will be on, numbers of showings, and a myriad of other goals.
4 Best Kitchen Improvements for a Return on Investment
Selling a house is always a challenge, but things are especially hard when the most frequently used room looks dated or unappealing. Between cooking, eating casual meals and socializing over a glass of wine, the kitchen is perhaps our most used room after the bedroom – and that’s only if you count time spent sleeping.
This means that both home sellers and real estate professionals understand the importance of sprucing up an old-looking kitchen. Going overboard and redoing everything doesn’t make sense either, because a seller is still looking to get the highest return possible. Thankfully, there are a number of cost-effective improvements that are sure to impress potential buyers.
1. New lighting
Contrary to popular belief, changing a light fixture does not necessarily require the help of an electrician. If you can follow instructions, remember to shut off the breaker before starting work and be careful, you can change a hanging light fixture without much trouble. That means that, for the cost of the fixture, you can switch out that florescent light that came with the home for a chic, soft white light.
2. Change the faucet
Another bit of DIY magic that surprises a number of homeowners is the process of changing a faucet – it’s easy. For $100 to $200, you can buy a beautiful faucet that will add tremendous appeal to the room by giving it that updated, chic and modern look. We recommend the high arching faucets with single-handles.
3. Paint
Most real estate professionals have seen their share of kitchens that are decorated in outdated wall paper or themes that may be less than appealing to prospective buyers. If you are willing to do the painting yourself, you can take your kitchen from “grandma’s house” to “timeless” with nothing but a few days of work, materials and the right hue.
4. Don’t forget the little things
Are your knobs old or plain? New hardware costs almost nothing and couldn’t be simpler to install. Replacing cabinetry is a big, expensive job. Simply changing out the hardware, however, is inexpensive and easy.
In fact, a trip to the hardware store, perhaps $100 on new supplies and an hour of replacing older hinges and handles can mean a much cleaner kitchen appearance, which, in turn, means a better return on investment.
Want to go a step further? Buy new plates for your switches and switch them out yourself. Combined, these small, affordable projects could make a huge difference.
This means that both home sellers and real estate professionals understand the importance of sprucing up an old-looking kitchen. Going overboard and redoing everything doesn’t make sense either, because a seller is still looking to get the highest return possible. Thankfully, there are a number of cost-effective improvements that are sure to impress potential buyers.
1. New lighting
Contrary to popular belief, changing a light fixture does not necessarily require the help of an electrician. If you can follow instructions, remember to shut off the breaker before starting work and be careful, you can change a hanging light fixture without much trouble. That means that, for the cost of the fixture, you can switch out that florescent light that came with the home for a chic, soft white light.
2. Change the faucet
Another bit of DIY magic that surprises a number of homeowners is the process of changing a faucet – it’s easy. For $100 to $200, you can buy a beautiful faucet that will add tremendous appeal to the room by giving it that updated, chic and modern look. We recommend the high arching faucets with single-handles.
3. Paint
Most real estate professionals have seen their share of kitchens that are decorated in outdated wall paper or themes that may be less than appealing to prospective buyers. If you are willing to do the painting yourself, you can take your kitchen from “grandma’s house” to “timeless” with nothing but a few days of work, materials and the right hue.
4. Don’t forget the little things
Are your knobs old or plain? New hardware costs almost nothing and couldn’t be simpler to install. Replacing cabinetry is a big, expensive job. Simply changing out the hardware, however, is inexpensive and easy.
In fact, a trip to the hardware store, perhaps $100 on new supplies and an hour of replacing older hinges and handles can mean a much cleaner kitchen appearance, which, in turn, means a better return on investment.
Want to go a step further? Buy new plates for your switches and switch them out yourself. Combined, these small, affordable projects could make a huge difference.
5 Things to Think About When Buying Your First Place
As a renter, you have the luxury of choosing a place that meets your needs at the moment. Buying a home is a much bigger commitment, both in terms of finances and the length of time you’ll likely live there. When seeking out your first place – whether a house or condominium or anything in between – it’s important to do your homework.
Here are 5 things to consider as you begin the process of purchasing your first place.
1. The growth possibilities. Shop for a place that meets your current spaces needs, but also consider one that can adjust to a changing household. A five-year plan may not pan out as you expect, so think about possible life changes that could impact your need for bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage.
2. What's under the hood. Your first place may not come with many frills or luxury features – but all the basics should be in good condition. Thoroughly inspect prospective properties. And before any purchase is made, hiring a professional inspector is a must. Your real estate agent can guide you through this key step.
3. Know that no home will be perfect. Your first home may likely not be the perfect place. But make it the right one. Finding the right home is often a matter of prioritizing. Make a list of “must haves,” along with “nice to haves” and “not necessary to haves.” A three-car garage is nice, but would you rather have a larger kitchen or live in a good neighborhood? Only you can measure the importance of the amenities you are looking for.
4. Consider ALL the costs of ownership. When you buy a home, you take on recurring costs you don’t have to worry about as a renter. Look for a home that meets your budget in terms of full living costs – mortgage, utilities, trash pick-up, sewage fees, homeowner's association dues and other fees. Your lender doesn't take into account these costs when approving your home loan. A good real estate agent can help you calculate estimated monthly costs to determine the most appropriate price range for you.
5. The lifespan of things. In addition to identifying cosmetic and structural flaws before you buy, know what to expect from the home's components. How long until you need to replace the roof, appliances, furnace or carpet? Everything may be in working order now, but all homes need these types of repairs at some point. Researching the expected remaining life on large-ticket items can help you plan for the future.
When you're ready to start the process of buying a home, a local RE/MAX agent will be ready to help.
Here are 5 things to consider as you begin the process of purchasing your first place.
1. The growth possibilities. Shop for a place that meets your current spaces needs, but also consider one that can adjust to a changing household. A five-year plan may not pan out as you expect, so think about possible life changes that could impact your need for bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage.
2. What's under the hood. Your first place may not come with many frills or luxury features – but all the basics should be in good condition. Thoroughly inspect prospective properties. And before any purchase is made, hiring a professional inspector is a must. Your real estate agent can guide you through this key step.
3. Know that no home will be perfect. Your first home may likely not be the perfect place. But make it the right one. Finding the right home is often a matter of prioritizing. Make a list of “must haves,” along with “nice to haves” and “not necessary to haves.” A three-car garage is nice, but would you rather have a larger kitchen or live in a good neighborhood? Only you can measure the importance of the amenities you are looking for.
4. Consider ALL the costs of ownership. When you buy a home, you take on recurring costs you don’t have to worry about as a renter. Look for a home that meets your budget in terms of full living costs – mortgage, utilities, trash pick-up, sewage fees, homeowner's association dues and other fees. Your lender doesn't take into account these costs when approving your home loan. A good real estate agent can help you calculate estimated monthly costs to determine the most appropriate price range for you.
5. The lifespan of things. In addition to identifying cosmetic and structural flaws before you buy, know what to expect from the home's components. How long until you need to replace the roof, appliances, furnace or carpet? Everything may be in working order now, but all homes need these types of repairs at some point. Researching the expected remaining life on large-ticket items can help you plan for the future.
When you're ready to start the process of buying a home, a local RE/MAX agent will be ready to help.
11 Ways You Can Stage Your Home to Sell
There are ways you can enhance the display of your home to exhibit the warmth and comfort you saw when you made your decision to buy. Here are some tips to help you show your house to its best advantage.
1. First impressions are often lasting ones. Have your lawn trimmed and garden cultivated. Add mulch to the flower beds. Be sure your exterior paint is in good condition, especially the front door. Purchase a new welcome mat for a great welcome invitation.
2. Let the sunshine in so pull back draperies and open the blinds. Clean your windows inside and out. Dust blinds, windowsills and baseboards.
3. Oil the squeaks and hammer loose nails on cabinets, drawers, and doors.
4. A warm glow from within can be created with a cheerful fire in the winter. Provide cool relief in the summer with sufficient air-conditioning.
5. Freshen up your walls, ceiling, and woodwork with a thorough washing or even repainting. This can often lend to an early sale, at a better price. Use Old English stain cover (dark wood) to cover scrapes.
6. Drip, drip, drip may only be a sign to a potential buyer that there is faulty plumbing. Make sure the faucets don’t leak and water heater doesn’t make a roaring sound.
7. Clutter can hide and distract from the size of your closets. Re-arrange articles and show off all the space. Box and put away seasonal clothes and shoes. Empty the closets and fill your pockets with extra cash at closing. Be sure and remove ALL personal family pictures. The buyer will be more distracted with the family and forget the home if left out.
8. A spotless kitchen is a best seller with gleaming appliances, uncluttered counter tops and clean drawers. Drop a lemon in the garbage disposal. Kitchens sell so make sure your cabinets are cleaned and appliances sparkle.
9. The walls close in on a crowded room with too much furniture. Eliminate clutter to create an open feeling. Move those extra pieces of furniture into the garage for a temporary stay.
10. Walk the children and dog, and crate the cat when prospects come to tour your home.
11. Lighten up your home with clean light fixtures and new light bulbs. Then turn on the lights, for a warm, clear impression. Add “Fresh Linen” wax in your Scentsy.
Not your thing? That's understandable. Ask about our staging services, even for an empty house.
1. First impressions are often lasting ones. Have your lawn trimmed and garden cultivated. Add mulch to the flower beds. Be sure your exterior paint is in good condition, especially the front door. Purchase a new welcome mat for a great welcome invitation.
2. Let the sunshine in so pull back draperies and open the blinds. Clean your windows inside and out. Dust blinds, windowsills and baseboards.
3. Oil the squeaks and hammer loose nails on cabinets, drawers, and doors.
4. A warm glow from within can be created with a cheerful fire in the winter. Provide cool relief in the summer with sufficient air-conditioning.
5. Freshen up your walls, ceiling, and woodwork with a thorough washing or even repainting. This can often lend to an early sale, at a better price. Use Old English stain cover (dark wood) to cover scrapes.
6. Drip, drip, drip may only be a sign to a potential buyer that there is faulty plumbing. Make sure the faucets don’t leak and water heater doesn’t make a roaring sound.
7. Clutter can hide and distract from the size of your closets. Re-arrange articles and show off all the space. Box and put away seasonal clothes and shoes. Empty the closets and fill your pockets with extra cash at closing. Be sure and remove ALL personal family pictures. The buyer will be more distracted with the family and forget the home if left out.
8. A spotless kitchen is a best seller with gleaming appliances, uncluttered counter tops and clean drawers. Drop a lemon in the garbage disposal. Kitchens sell so make sure your cabinets are cleaned and appliances sparkle.
9. The walls close in on a crowded room with too much furniture. Eliminate clutter to create an open feeling. Move those extra pieces of furniture into the garage for a temporary stay.
10. Walk the children and dog, and crate the cat when prospects come to tour your home.
11. Lighten up your home with clean light fixtures and new light bulbs. Then turn on the lights, for a warm, clear impression. Add “Fresh Linen” wax in your Scentsy.
Not your thing? That's understandable. Ask about our staging services, even for an empty house.
