Posts with tag 'tips'

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It is true that every home transaction is different, so it is hard to give an accurate time frame for buying a new house. According to HouseLogic.com, however, the average purchase of a new house takes about 50 days from start to finish. Let's take a look and how they've broken down the process:

1. Do Your Homework

Time: 1-14 days

You really should do some critical research to help you figure out what want and what you don't want in a house so that you can stay on track throughout the process.

You should also get pre-qualified for a loan. This will help you get a better understanding of how much you can afford.

2. Find An Agent

Time: 1-7 days

Finding an agent who suits you is key to the home buying process. You should interview several and choose the one that...

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When you need to sell your home quickly (which, let's face it, most sellers do!) there are a few industry tips that can really help! Here are my top 10!

10. Price it Right:

A common mistake that sellers make is to list their home at a higher asking price and expect low offers to bring it down to where they want to end up. In reality, however, one of the best strategies for selling a home fast is to start your home off below what it is actually worth! Sounds crazy, right? Let me explain... competition is the key to selling your home for what it is worth in today's market. You need to attract buyers and when your home is priced below market value, it will become very attractive. This causes multiple bids from multiple buyers, creating a bidding war. When done correctly, home owners often discover that using this strategy gets them even more than they bargained for. So, how much lower should you go? A good technique is to find out how much your home is worth in the current market and knock that down by about 10% (or more depending on the market). It is a scary thought, but, more often than not, it pays off. You should always talk to your real estate agent about this first... markets change and this technique might not always work.

9. Declutter:

The last thing buyers want to see when they walk into a house is clutter. So, if you haven't already moved out, it would be wise to rent a storage unit while your home is on the market. Make sure that unecessary furniture and holiday decorations are stored and that your closets, cabinets and pantries are all half empty and clean. Buyers will open every door and if a closet or pantry looks overstuffed, it leaves the impression that the house is short on storage space.

8. Find the Right Agent:

It's a cheap shot... I know! But, do you really want an agent that passes on an opportunity to market? ---> In all seriousness though, do your research on the real estate agents in your area and choose one that will work hard for you. They should be knowledgable about the market and the area. And you want them to be honest! You don't want an agent that will tell you your home is perfect. You want them to give you honest feedback on the postivies and negatives of your home because buyers won't hold back. It is also a good idea to hire a realtor that is tech-savvy... most buyers search the internet for homes and it will definitely help to have your listing stand out.

7. Depersonalize:

We all love our walls full of family photos. We love showing off our child's artwork on the fridge. And we love putting the collectibles that we inherited from grandma on display. This is what makes your home feel like your home. But, when you are trying to sell that home, it is very important to allow buyers to imagine the house as their home. So, before opening up your home for showings, you should remove all personal items and keep the favored decor to a minimum. Let the buyers see the house, not the decorations (or your trip to the beach last year.)

6. Take the Pets:

Little Buster is quite possibly the cutest little dog in the world... to you. But, to potential buyers, Buster makes the house feel dirty. When opening up your home for showings, you should consider treating your pets to a day at a pet hotel or ask a friend to pet-sit. When possible, you should try to remove all signs that animals reside in the house with you by putting away the food bowls, the beds and the litter boxes. You should also do a thorough vacuuming and cleaning to get rid of the pet hair. You want buyers to walk away with a good, clean impression of your home, not with dog hair all over their clothes.

5. Curb Appeal:

Speaking of impressions, the first is always the most important. Which is why you should spend as much time (if not more) sprucing up the outside of your home as you do on the inside. Make sure the grass is cut, the weeds are pulled and the garden is free from leaves and debris. If your garden is a little bare, plant some inexpensive shrubs and bright, colorful flowers to cheer things up. Clean the windows and gutters and power wash the siding and deck. Put a fresh coat of paint where needed... especially on the door, the window panes and the mailbox. If there are any trees leaning precauriously towards your home, consider having them cut down prior to any showings. You don't want buyers to walk up and immediately see potentially costly issues.

4. Quick Fixes:

You shouldn't worry about doing any major upgrades prior to putting your house on the market but you should consider doing some quick and less expensive touch-ups. It is the details that can, all too often, be overlooked by home owners, but that can give buyers the impression of an upkept home with possibly larger, less obvious issues. So, prior to listing your home take a walk through the entire house imagining yourself as a potential buyer. Make a list of any small issues that would give you, a buyer, a bad impression and concentrate on those. Do your faucets leak? Does your grout need cleaning? Are the walls dirty or in need of a fresh coat of paint? You would be amazed what a difference a new coat of paint can do for your home through the eyes of a buyer! Just be sure to keep the colors neutral... this is not the time for bold color choices. Also, check your doors, cabinets and closet doors to make sure everything functions correctly and that no hardware is missing.

3. Brighten Things Up:

The light in a home is at the top of the list of wants for buyers, second only to location. Make sure your home shines by confirming that all of the bulbs throughout the house work and are bright... even the attic and closets. Take down any room darkening curtains and replace them with inexpensive sheers. Trim any bushes that might be blocking the sunlight from entering the home. Dark houses can feel depressing... you want to make sure that your home feels cheery and happy!

2. Staging:

Professional staging can make a huge difference when it comes to selling a home fast. They know all of the tips and tricks on how to make a house feel open and welcoming and how to highlight your home's strengths and soften its flaws. But not everyone has the extra money to hire a staging expert. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try to do it yourself. Doing some research will certainly give you a start, but what will really help is to have a friend walk through your home as if they were a buyer. Have them be honest with you when the layout feels awkward or if you have too much clutter in a room. The idea is to think about not how you like your home arranged, but which arrangement would make the most sense to others. It is also a very good idea to have your agent work through looking at everything from a marketing perspective. They have experience... let them use it!

1. Be Ready to Show:

When your home is on the market, you never know when your perfect buyer is going to walk through that door. So, it is very important to make sure that the house is always ready to be shown. If you are still living in the home, run the vacuum and clean your bathrooms every day. Don't leave your dishes in the sink or in the dishwasher and don't leave your stuff lying around. I know what you are thinking... but, I have kids!! Kids do make this process more difficult (let's be honest, they make it much more difficult), but a good habit to get into is to have a 30 minute "clean up" session each night before bed. This will give you a fresh start the next day and make any early morning showing requests less stressful. If you have already moved out, you are not off the hook. You should make sure the house is checked on at least 1-2 times per week (if you have moved far away you can ask a friend or your realtor to do this.) If there has been some bad weather recently, you should request a check-in right after to make sure no damage was done. You should also have the house professionally cleaned every 1-2 weeks. It is amazing how quickly spiders can weave their webs in an empty house, not to mention the dirt and snow that can be dragged it by unwitting buyers.

If you have any questions about any of these tips, please call/text me at 937.552.3600 or you can email me at jennifer.vogel@irongaterealtors.com. Thanks for reading and happy selling!