Latest Selling Articles

Get Your Home Appraised Before Listing

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:54:48 -0700

Whether the real estate market is hot, cold or some lukewarm level in between, it is a good idea to pay for an appraisal before you put your home on the market.

This process may even be a wake-up call. Is your house worth what you expected? Will you have to lower your asking price to be competitive in your neighborhood? If it takes a long time to sell your home because you have set the price higher than the market will bear, it may decrease in value simply due to the perception that something is wrong with the property.

Go back to the beginning: Find a copy of the appraisal that was done when you bought the home. This will give comparisons of what flaws existed, if any, at the time of purchase and if the problems have been resolved.

Get credentials: Ask your appraiser if he or she is a member of an accredited association, such as the MAI (Member Appraisal Institute) or ASA (American Society of Appraisers) - an international organization. Check out at least two appraisers before choosing the person you would like to hire.

Know your limits: Having a firm figure on your home's value, through your own pre-sale appraisal, will give you a better handle on negotiations with buyers once your house goes on the market.

Don't guess: Assuming you know how much your home is worth, because Joe Bloe down the road got a specific amount for his house, is not a smart way to proceed. At the very least, speak to a realtor before you list your property to engage his or her expertise in your local market.

Check it all: Your appraisal should also include aspects outside of your home. What kind of neighborhood do you live in? Is it close to schools? Have there been improvements to local transportation in recent years?

Return on investment: The money invested for a pre-sale appraisal will be worthwhile as it will save time if you decide to go ahead with your plans. It could generate a faster sale as well.

What is included: In addition to the value of the home, knowing what you will include with the sale, such as major appliances, will also need to be included for an appraised price. This may be a point of negotiation once a transaction begins, but knowing the value ahead of time will give you more bargaining power in order to get the price you want.

Selling Your Home in the Winter

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:02:37 -0700

While winter months are not traditionally the time for buyers to be knocking down your door with an offer, it is still a good time to sell, if you have the right tools and techniques.

Creating a welcoming sight on a cold day is paramount. From a safe (snow-free) walkway to a wreath on your front door, winter curb appeal has many facets – most of them warm and cozy.

Here are a few more ideas to get the offers coming in:

* Make sure the trees and bushes in both your front and back yards are trimmed, with all leaves raked and gone.

* Sprinkle sand on the sidewalk to prevent realtors and buyers from slipping.

* If the weather is rainy, have a cheery Welcome mat at the front door, and a container for wet umbrellas.

* Wash your windows - shows pride in ownership.

* Keep the blinds open to let as much light in as possible.

* Turn the heat on to a comfortable level. If you have a gas fireplace, turn it on as well to create a welcoming and cozy atmosphere.

* It's a tried and true suggestion – bake something the day of the showing for a homey aroma. Chocolate chip cookies are #1, or fresh bread.

* Use your good china and silver to set the dining room table, as if welcoming guests.

* Keep your holiday decorating to a minimum. Buyers want to imagine how they can make the room festive, once they buy the home.

* Set lights on timers if your home will be shown in the evening. Also have motion sensor lights in the yard to show safety measures.

* Place a cozy duvet or two on the beds and fold them back slightly.

* Fill vases with winter flowers to add color.

* Make sure every light bulb in the house works as planned to showcase your home.

* Play relaxing music softly, such as classical or quiet jazz.

* Be cautious when using scented candles or room sprays. Many people are allergic to fragrances.

* Ensure winter musty smells are not present. Air out drapes or have carpets cleaned.

* Remove signs of pets, including their odors. Have a realtor or friend tell you if they can smell pets. You are usually immune to the scents.

* Buy disposable paper booties for people to use as they tour your home.

Should you sell your home on Craigslist?

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:44:06 -0700

Craigslist is an Internet phenomenon that brings millions of people to its local pages to peruse the latest deals. For the enterprising home seller, listing their home on Craigslist may mean that they get more potential buyers looking at the property. It certainly doesn’t hurt, but sellers beware, Craigslist isn’t a miracle working home selling device. Without the aid of a professional agent, your home may just join the rest of the discarded listings.

The problem with sites that claim that you can sell your home through Craigslist “without the help of an agent!” is that they don’t take into consideration the many details that are involved with real estate transactions. It may be easy to find a buyer for your property via Craigslist, but negotiating a home sale is a different situation. Many home buyers are not equipped to deal with the minutiae of a home sale while they’re trying to juggle a job, family and other commitments. Also, an agent has more contacts in the real estate world than the average mortal and can connect a seller with a buyer very quickly using them.

Will Craigslist supplant the MLS? It’s not likely. Craigslist has only a limited search capability – number of beds & baths and specific keyword searches. The keywords aren’t that useful for finding one’s dream home, either. Also, one has to wade through incorrectly classified ads and ads that are purposefully placed in the “real estate” category to get leads for buyers. Craigslist’s search parameters are not to be compared to the MLS’ more comprehensive searches and filters.

Craigslist is, admittedly, wildly popular and many people use it. Should you? As a part of a campaign that involves the MLS and other advertising, Craigslist can be very effective. Good photos, a comprehensive description and a link to the MLS or agent’s page are a must. The Craigslist post should contain words to the effect of “For more information, go to this link…” If there are fancy things like virtual walkthroughs on the agent’s page, those should be mentioned as well.

Craigslist is a great place for selling your old furniture and other belongings, but as the sole medium of advertising a home for sale, it falls short. It’s best used in conjunction with the services of a competent agent as an additional form of advertising instead of the only advertising. Good pictures and clear copy can help people searching for their perfect home narrow it down to yours.

Selling Your House Quickly on a Budget

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:44:59 -0700

Everyone knows that it takes a little sprucing up to make your house sale ready. The most recent evidence of this is the surge in staging companies, and courses for consumers on how to do staging themselves. But can you do it yourself without a lot of cash outlay? Absolutely!

If you were to drive by your home for the first time, does it look enticing? Can you "see yourself" in this house as a potential buyer?

Here are a few cost-effective ideas to get your home looking its best for a quick sale:

1. Tackle the clutter! This is a common suggestion for a reason. Buyers want to imagine their belongings in the house, not yours. Put away all kitchen appliances and jars that normally stay on your counters. Removing clutter also makes your rooms appear larger. Clutter in bedrooms is detracting, so put any clothes hampers, kids' toys, magazine collections and other items out of sight.

2. Remember curb appeal. You never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Selling a home quickly requires strong visuals, either in photos or in person. Keep your lawn mowed weekly. Trim overgrown bushes and remove any clutter from the yard. Place a hanging basket or a simple set of chimes near the front door.

3. Do all of the small repairs. Spraying lubricant on a squeaky door, gluing loose tiles, fixing a leaky tap and other quick maintenance jobs will do wonders to encourage a sale.

4. Add a splash of color for a homey look, inside and out. Purchasing a few clay pots at the dollar store and filling them with bright, cheery flowers will change the look of your home instantly. Be cautious of flowers inside, however, in case a buyer is allergic.

5. Paint your walls a neutral color. The extra effort will create a blank canvas for the new owners to add their own style.

6. Clean your windows well. Who wants to look outside through streaks, or worse, dirt film when they are deciding on buying a new home?

7. If you have pets, do everything you can to eliminate pet hair. Not only does it detract visually, but many people are allergic to pet dander. Make arrangements for the pets to be away from the home during showings as well. Room sprays will also help take away the pet odor.

8. Store family pictures away.

9. Have your carpets professionally cleaned. Even if this stretches your budget, the end results will be worth it. Your home will look and smell clean, and promote the fact that it is well cared for.

10. Be flexible on your price. This doesn't mean you have to give your house away, but discuss fair prices with your real estate agent and be willing to move on your asking price to get the quick sale.

Change Your Attitude towards Your For-Sale Home to Sell Quickly

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:33:39 -0700

Once your home goes up for sale, you have to change your attitude towards it in order to sell it quickly and for a good price. It's hard to maintain an objective attitude towards your home, but you must to avoid the problems that an emotional connection can bring with it.

The first step is to de-clutter. Not only does this help present your home in an advantageous light to buyers, it also helps you to get a head start on packing. In addition, de-cluttering will help you divorce yourself from some of the memories associated with your home. This may seem to be a little strange, but if you can bring yourself to pack up some of your belongings and arrange the rest to maximize the looks of your home, it can help you view the proceedings objectively.

Listen to your listing agent. They want to get a good price for your home, too. But they also know what the market will support. No matter how valuable you think the house where little Timmy grew to manhood is, the market is going to determine how much buyers think it is worth. Research homes that are similar to yours - neighborhoods, amenities, etc. and see how much they are going for. This is what your listing agent uses to determine the probable sale price of your home.

It's best if you're not present when buyers come on a walkthrough. While you know your home best, your presence can make buyers uncomfortable about discussing the drawbacks to your home and you could inadvertently ruin a sale by saying the wrong thing or calling the buyer's attention to something that may be a plus for you, but is a drawback for them. An agent's purpose is to get your house sold - trust that your agent knows how to do that for you!

It can be very hard to let go of a home that you have bonded with. Emotional ties can lead you to want more money for your home or a certain kind of buyer, but this can end up slowing or completely stopping sales. It's best to set your attention on packing and looking forward to the new home you are planning to live in then to allow your attachment to your old home prevent you from moving forward with its sale and your life.

Private real estate sales

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:17:55 -0700

Private real estate sales are something mystical. What's interesting is that in most of the cases, private real estate sales are usually committed when there is a lot of money involved in buying the property hence real estate agents demand 3 to 7 per cent of the commission. Also, buying the property from a private landowner, the process is a hell of a lot faster than a) getting a real estate agent; b) specifying your request; c) waiting for him to find you a suitable property to buy; d) buying the property, and of course, paying the agent a commission fee.

There are, of course, downsides to buying properties private real estate sales. First of all, it is quite hard to find them. Secondly, the price may be inadequate, so there’s a lot of research to be done… or you need to hire an appraiser. And last of all, there’s a lot of risk involved with money transactions. Real estate sales which are listed in newspapers and classifieds are generally safer than buying directly from the owner for one simple reason: the real estate agent will probably be the party interested the most, and he'll work for both the seller and the buyer to be fully content with the upcoming deal.

So how can you find private real estate sales? For one, look in magazines. Local magazines like "Private Real Estate" (Ontario), "City-Habitat" (New York City) and others can help you a great deal. The other possibility is spoken word, the third – classifieds (look for classifieds labeled with "property for sale by owner").

When searching for a property to purchase, don't forget that you probably need an appraiser. You can't know the market value of the property you want to purchase until you've contacted an appraiser. For estimates (so you don't have to contact an appraiser for every property you could be interested in), just search for similar properties put up for sale and subtract a few thousand – you can make an approximate guess from the other properties in the neighborhood.

It is a common practice among banks to make auctions of acquired real-estate solely for the people known to the one in charge (e.g. the bank manager), but there are more private auctions that you could visit. So if you know a bank clerk or a manager, ask him around, just remember that actions like these are usually… not for free, unless the bank worker you know is a really close friend.

If you can find private real estate sales, you can save thousands. And the seller is more committed to sell the house, because the seller doesn't have to give away too much excess cash to real estate agents. Why most of the properties are sold by real estate agents then? Because people are insured and feel safer when buying a property – it is true that you have to be close to a real estate expert to buy properties relying solely on instinct – and that is generally what private real estate sales are.

Add Warmth When Selling Your Home

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:00:07 -0700

Often times when selling a home, one gets so caught up in the details of staging that they forget to allow some of the individual character of the home to shine through. The once colorful walls now reflect the same hue from room to room, and yes as much as that creates a blank canvas for potential buyers, the house may lose some of its warmth. After all, this piece of merchandise is also a family home.

An effective way to accentuate a home's individuality and also welcome future owners is to change the decor with the seasons. Especially in today's market, many listings are taking longer to sell, which can result in a home going through multiple seasonal changes. There is nothing wrong with sprucing up the home for the holidays, however, there is a balance between bouncing inflatable lawn ornaments, and tasteful autumn or Halloween decorations.

Here are some ideas for indoor and outdoor decorations that are not only tasteful, but eye catching and will convey the warmth of the season.

Outdoor:

Nothing says autumn like a colorful wreath hanging from the front door. Let nature be your inspiration as you adorn your canvas with items that reflect the changing of the seasons. Begin with a foam or grapevine wreath and glue silk or preserved leaves in varying fall colors. If you use a foam base, first cover it completely with sheet moss to give your leaves a mossy background.

Using a grapevine wreath, glue leaves on the bottom half and add small gourds or pumpkins. Top it off with some twigs with berries and a bright orange bow.

Glue nuts of varying types to the front of a wreath form against a leafy background.

A dried flower wreath is timeless and elegant. Begin with a background of bay leaf or eucalyptus. Build on it by adding layers of sage, goldenrod, and finally small tufts of mums, asters or daisies.

Get small containers of flowers and insert them in hollowed out small pumpkins. They look gorgeous along a wall or lining a walkway.

Get a basket, bushel or old wooden wheelbarrow and fill it to overflowing with the bounties of the season. Use gourds, pumpkins, Indian corn, twigs, and accessorize with some gardening gloves and a shovel.

Build an autumn container using ornamental grass in the center, ornamental kale, delicate pansies, and some flowing ivy.

Alternate pumpkins and containers of mums on your front steps and along the walkway to greet visitors.

Indoors:

Create vases for the table and mantle using gourds and pumpkins. Find a long neck gourd that stands upright, cut off the end and dig into it with a slender knife. Insert a bunch of bright mums or sunflowers.

Take delicate covered jars or other clear containers and display tiny gourds, berry covered branches, or blossoms.

Take a selection of gourds and spray them with gold paint. Display on a fancy plate or in a crystal bowl.

Scoop out ornamental gourds and use as candy bowls.

Create candle holders by taking small ornamental pumpkins and gourds, glue leaves to their base, and drill out a hole to insert a candle. It looks great with both tall candles, or small wide ones that lie flush with the top of the pumpkin. String vines of cranberry among the candle holders once in place on the table.

Using Scents to Sell Your Home

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:26:13 -0700

With so many homes on the market currently, it is more important than ever to get your home to stand out from the herd so that buyers will remember your home above all the rest that are on the market. One of the most powerful tools at your disposal to make your home stand out from the crowd once you've done all your repairs and staging is that of home scents; the smell of your home can be inviting or a warning to prospective buyers.

Odors like those that come from pets are an annoyance to prospective buyers, but smells of mildew or decay are an indication of deeper problems. To avoid any unpleasant discoveries, have a friend or neighbour come and do a walk-through of your home to point out if they can detect any unpleasant odors that might be an indication of a problem. Make sure that before you go to the trouble of removing pet smells from your home that you board your pets with friends or relatives or consider a pet hotel for the duration of the time that your home will be on the market.

The easiest way to remove smells from soft surfaces is by a liberal sprinkling of baking soda which is then allowed to sit and absorb odors for a few hours before being vacuumed up. If that doesn't remove unpleasant scents, hire a cleaner to come in and clean the carpets, fabric furniture, and drapes. If you have a garbage disposal, run a half a piece of citrus fruit through it before a house tour to freshen it up. Don't forget to take out the kitchen garbage daily, not just right before the house is shown; this will help keep odors in your kitchen to a minimum.

The next step is adding pleasant, yet appropriate, scents to your home. Have you ever gone to someone's home and noticed that the entire thing smelled like flowers or sweet fruity scents? Such contrived odors make it obvious that the homeowner is using air fresheners or room deodorizers; this makes you feel like they're trying to cover up bad smells.

If you incorporate scents in your home that seem like they belong there, the smell itself will stand out less and just make your home seem more inviting. For example, in your kitchen and living areas it makes sense for your home to smell like fresh brewed coffee or baking, especially in an open plan home where the air has more opportunity to circulate. If you want to use floral scents in your home, try actually placing scented flowers in those rooms to give a reason for that scent to be there. A living room with a fireplace is a natural choice for a pine scent if you have logs stacked in the fireplace ready to be lit.

No matter what scents you choose, any scent that is pleasant will be a benefit to your home tours; research suggests that people look more favourably on any pleasant scent over an unpleasant one or even no scent at all. Potential buyers looking at your home in a more favourable light is sure to catch you more offers on your home.

Staging Your Home for Successful Fall & Winter Sales

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:28:18 -0700

While many people swear by selling homes during the bright spring and summer months, there is really no reason why you can't sell your home during the darker, cooler months of the year as well. Staging your home is important no matter when during the year you are trying to sell, but it is especially important when you're putting your property up for sale in the fall and winter months.

The whole purpose of staging your home is to make the atmosphere appear inviting to the prospective buyers; what buyers will find inviting in the winter months is quite different than what they'll find inviting in the warm summer months. In the summer, home owners tend to stage their homes with a focus towards light, bright, and airy environments. In the darker, cooler months, what we find inviting is quite different than what we see as inviting in the summertime.

When the weather is brisk outside, what many people will find inviting is a warm, cosy home. When the weather is cool, make sure that you turn the heat inside your home up a little so that prospective buyers are comfortable. If you have a gas or electric fireplace, turn it on to add to the ambiance of your home.

While you don't want your MLS pictures to be dated by seasonal decorations, it is totally fine to use them in your house when you're staging it for sale. Try to keep your decorating fairly neutral and simple so that prospective buyers can easily see themselves in your space. Don't let your holiday decorations obscure your home's assets either, they should just add a touch of the holidays without being overpowering.

Another great way to make prospective buyers feel at home in your house is by using smells. Fresh baking smells are inviting for most people, even if it's just some store bought cookie dough that you pop in the oven before your home is shown so that the smell pervades the house and buyers feel welcomed by a plate of freshly baked cookies. A crockpot full of warmed spiced apple cider is a great alternative to baking and has a great holiday scent as well.

If you live in an area that has rainy or snowy weather in the fall and winter months, make sure that you take care that people can get to your front door without too much trouble. Keep your driveway ploughed or shovelled when it's snowy and make sure to keep walkways salted and sanded for safety. During the wet weather, and particularly when there is sand and salt down, make sure that you have ample space by the front door for people to take off their shoes. Use a mat by the front door to collect bits of grit that come in on people's shoes to help protect your floors as well.

The main concerns when you're trying to sell your home during the fall and winter months is that, due to the weather and darker days, people find different things inviting than they did in the summer months. Make sure that you focus your staging on fall and winter comfort to make your prospective buyers feel at home in your home.

Transforming Stigmatized Properties

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:37:20 -0700

If you’re trying to sell a property that has been marred by a serious crime, a purported haunting or criminal activity, it might be time for a makeover to change the image of the home you are trying to sell from the image in the papers and on TV. A different kind of curbside appeal makes it less likely that your buyers will be triggered by emotions associated with the pictures that have been in the news.

The first thing is to take stock of the publicity photos. Note what they show and where. If a crime or event is serious enough, there might be photos of the interior of the house as well as the exterior and the grounds. Gather together what evidence you can and study it. Your goal is to find out what the public is seeing and change your home’s look so that when buyers come to see the place, they don’t see the building in photographs.

Change the landscaping. The more you break up the visual appearance of the property, the less likely is it going to be associated with bad publicity.

Prune back trees and bushes or consider removing some
Plant trees and flowers
Buy some shrubbery or other plants to put on the property
Add decorative pathways
Plant a garden or make a rock garden

Change the exterior of the house. Add some architectural details or replace some.

If the home was a dark color, paint it a light color
If the home was a light color, paint it a different light color or a medium shade
Replace windows and shutters to give the home a different look
Paint trim, window ledges and entrances a different contrasting color
Repaint the doors or replace them
Replace the mailbox with a different one
Replace the home address numbers with new ones in a different style

If photos were taken that show the interior of the home, you will have to reimagine those areas.

Repaint the walls.
Replace the carpet or stain the floors
Replace or change the appearance of furniture
Rearrange the room

Changing the appearance of a stigmatized property will separate it from the bad publicity surrounding its history. The public’s memory is short and hopefully your work will serve to minimize the triggering of bad memories and promote the home’s sale.