Home Selling on a Budget

                                                  Home Selling on a Budget from About.com

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Pre-Sale Renovations

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Pre-Sale Renovation: Home Seller Do’s and Don’ts | RISMedia

Better Home Showings

Simple Tips for Better Home Showings

Realtor.org – Realtor Magazine

                                                            Flickr.com – granite-charlotte

1. Remove clutter and clear off counters. Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, and remove out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Don’t forget to clean out the garage, too.

2. Wash your windows and screens. This will help get more light into the interior of the home.

3. Keep everything extra clean. A clean house will make a strong first impression and send a message to buyers that the home has been well-cared for. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates, mop and wax floors, and clean the stove and refrigerator. Polish your doorknobs and address numbers. It’s worth hiring a cleaning service if you can afford it.

4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows to air out the house. Potpourri or scented candles will help.

5. Brighten your rooms. Put higher wattage bulbs in light fixtures to brighten up rooms and basements. Replace any burned-out bulbs in closets. Clean the walls, or better yet, brush on a fresh coat of neutral color paint.

6. Don’t disregard minor repairs. 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, add new mulch, trim the bushes, edge the walkways, and clean the gutters. For added curb appeal, place a pot of bright flowers near the entryway.

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

9. Add a touch of color in the living room. A colored afghan or throw on the couch will jazz up a dull room. Buy new accent pillows for the sofa.

10. Buy a flowering plant and put it near a window you pass by frequently.

11. Make centerpieces for your tables. Use brightly colored fruit or flowers.

12. Set the scene. Set the table with fancy dishes and candles, and create other vignettes throughout the home to help buyers picture living there. For example, in the basement you might display a chess game in progress.

13. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light. Show off the view if you have one.

14. Accentuate the fireplace. Lay fresh logs in the fireplace or put a basket of flowers there if it’s not in use.

15. Make the bathrooms feel luxurious. Put away those old towels and toothbrushes. When buyers enter your bathroom, they should feel pampered. Add a new shower curtain, new towels, and fancy guest soaps. Make sure your personal toiletry items are out of sight.

16. Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside. If that’s not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (ideally in the basement), and let the real estate practitioner know where they’ll be to eliminate surprises.

17. Lock up valuables, jewelry, and money. While a real estate salesperson will be on site during the showing or open house, it’s impossible to watch everyone all the time.

18. Leave the home. It’s usually best if the sellers are not at home. It’s awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you there.

Tips for Selling Your Home from RISMEDIA

5 Tips for Selling Your Home Quickly in Today’s Market

By Dan Steward Print Article

RISMEDIA, November 22, 2010—It’s one thing when someone says “Things are looking up,” but quite another when the numbers actually bear that out. Happily, the latter is the case, evidenced by the latest statistics that show that home prices may be stabilizing. Namely, national home prices jumped an impressive 3.6% in the past year, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index released in late August. Prices also climbed 4.4% in the second quarter, which contrasts with a 2.8% decrease in the first quarter.

This uptick in prices leads to a simple conclusion: Sell now if you can. And you certainly can. A fast sale, taking advantage of these numbers, is entirely possible, and can result in a lot of profit and a very happy client. But telling your client to “sell quickly,” without backing it up, can inspire fear and even ire. Instead, give them these methodical, easy tips to selling fast and successfully, taking advantage of a market uptick, without inducing panic or stomach aches.

1. Don’t raise the price. The uptick in home prices doesn’t mean that you should get all excited and raise the price. The trick is to leave your price the same as it was—that will encourage a bidding war. Hearing news about home prices going up, and raising your price immediately as a response to that, is typically not the way to go; the home will likely sell for more as a result of two buyers fighting over your reasonable price, rather than walking away due to a price that’s too high. Remember, the goal is ultimately to get more money, not to have a higher list price.

2. Remain flexible. Selling quickly means making some concessions—and we’re not talking price. It’s those little extras that may inspire a buyer to sign on the dotted line. Obviously, no one has the right to get your vintage grand piano in the deal. But if a buyer wants your stainless-steel fridge with ice-maker, give it up. There’s more ice waiting in your new home.

3. De-clutter. For a quick sale, you may not have time to fully “stage” your home down to the accent pillows and entirely new living room furniture. But you do have time to clear out the clutter. If we saw a home we’d like, we’d look past the clutter, but most buyers won’t. So, before you worry about making your home pretty, focus on making it neat. In a better market, neat is often all you need.

4. Schedule more open houses—and don’t attend your own. When you have a longer time frame for selling, you can schedule open houses at your leisure, but if you want to sell fast, try for as many open houses as you can—and do not attend them, as a homeowner at their own open house often makes a potential buyer too nervous to comfortably look around.

5. Go big—and go local. If you haven’t listed in MLS (multiple-listing service), it’s a good idea, especially if you want to sell fast. The math is simple—more eyes on your listing equals more potential bites. But a lot of people who use the MLS forget that local advertising is important as well. Advertising in local and regional publications—as well as simply putting the word out with friends and family—are often skipped, expecting that the Internet will get the job done on its own.

Dan Steward is president of Pillar To Post Professional Home Inspections.

For more information, visit www.pillartopost.com.

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.

Have you heard about RISMedia’s Real Estate Information Network® (RREIN)? RREIN is an elite network of leading real estate companies dedicated to providing consumers and their agents with leading real estate information, and committed to the belief that Information Share Equals Market Share. Having only launched this past June 2010, the RREIN network is already comprised of 40 leading brokerages, which make up 575 offices, 30,000 agents, 167,000 closings and represents over $41 billion in transactions. How can RREIN help your recruiting efforts and differentiate your company today? For more information, email rrein@rismedia.com.

Copyright© 2010 RISMedia, The Leader in Real Estate Information Systems and Real Estate News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be republished without permission from RISMedia.

12 Days of Christmas for Home Sellers

Here’s a different take on 12 Days of Christmas from a Realtor for Home Sellers…

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How Long Does it Take to Sell a House?

How Long Does it Take to Sell a House?  Information from About.com

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Why You Should Work With a Realtor

Sharing another post from Realtor Magazine – Realtor.org

Why You Should Work With a REALTOR®

Not all real estate practitioners are REALTORS®. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Here are five reasons why it pays to work with a REALTOR®.

1. You’ll have an expert to guide you through the process. Buying or selling a home usually requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page settlement statements. A knowledgeable expert will help you prepare the best deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes.

2. Get objective information and opinions. REALTORS® can provide local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, and more. They’ll also be able to provide objective information about each property. A professional will be able to help you answer these two important questions: Will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?

3. Find the best property out there. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your REALTOR® to find all available properties.

4. Benefit from their negotiating experience. There are many negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession, and inclusion or exclusion of repairs, furnishings, or equipment. In addition, the purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.

5. Property marketing power. Real estate doesn’t sell due to advertising alone. In fact, a large share of real estate sales comes as the result of a practitioner’s contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, and family. When a property is marketed with the help of a REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.

6. Real estate has its own language. If you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand why it’s important to work with a professional who is immersed in the industry and knows the real estate language.

7. REALTORS® have done it before. Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. And even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations change. REALTORS®, on the other hand, handle hundreds of real estate transactions over the course of their career. Having an expert on your side is critical.

8. Buying and selling is emotional. A home often symbolizes family, rest, and security — it’s not just four walls and a roof. Because of this, home buying and selling can be an emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on both the emotional and financial issues most important to you.

9. Ethical treatment. Every member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® makes a commitment to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics, which is based on professionalism and protection of the public. As a customer of a REALTOR®, you can expect honest and ethical treatment in all transaction-related matters. It is mandatory for REALTORS® to take the Code of Ethics orientation and they are also required to complete a refresher course every four years.

 

 

 

 

Selling Your Home in Today’s Market

Wanted to share this post I read regarding Selling Your Home in Today’s Market – from rismedia.com

Home Sellers Must Look Beyond Price Cuts in Today’s Market

By Kathleen Lynn Print Article

RISMEDIA, October 15, 2010—(MCT)—Ken and Linda Bolsch put their five-bedroom, five-year-old Mahwah, N.J., colonial on the market in January, sure that buyers would appreciate its low taxes, wooded lot, and impeccable decor and landscaping. But after nine months—and a price cut from $925,000 to $749,000—the house is still on the market, with the couple looking at a substantial loss at that price. “We fell in love with the house from the moment we saw it, and we don’t know why other people aren’t doing the same,” Ken Bolsch said.  “We’re so confused and confounded about the whole thing.”

These are tough days for sellers. Sales have plunged at least 20% from last year’s numbers, following the expiration of a federal tax credit for home buyers, and the real estate market is headed into a traditionally slow season. Small wonder that sellers feel discouraged and disappointed.

Bob Sandusky of Weichert, the Bolsches’ agent, sums up sellers’ feelings in one word: “frustration.”

“They’re angry. They’re bitter. They’re in a bad place; they’re in a sad place,” said Attilio Adamo of Prudential Adamo Realty in Harrington Park, N.J.

The usual prescription for a house that won’t sell is simple: Cut the price. “If the seller allows you to price it right, it goes,” said Roslyn Breitstein of Prudential Adamo.

But many sellers can’t stomach that thought. If they bought within the past few years, they may have mortgages bigger than the amount they could get for the house.

“They can’t believe that their house could be worth 30 percent less than what their neighbor got a few years ago,” said Barbara Liati of Prominent Properties Sotheby’s International Realty in Tenafly, N.J. In fact, there’s one sentence that real estate agents hear over and over: “I’m not giving my house away.”

“It seems no matter what a person bought their home for, they do not feel in this economy they are getting the real value for their home,” said Ellen Weiner, a Weichert agent in Clifton, N.J.

And sellers have to deal with buyers who feel they have the upper hand. Buyers ask for lower prices, even if the price has already been cut. After a home is inspected, buyers will push sellers to correct even minor problems, agents say.

Moreover, buyers are in no rush to make an offer. “They’re worried about their jobs,” said Dick O’Connor, a Dumont, N.J., broker. “People are looking at houses, but they won’t buy.”

“Buyers keep thinking there’s going to be a better deal around the corner,” Adamo said.

“The buyer population out there wants it for nothing, and they want all the bling,” said Elizabeth Sarkozi, a corporate tax manager who put her four-bedroom, 52-year-old Englewood Cliffs, N.J., split-level on the market last February, asking $925,000.

She expected it to sell quickly because of the town’s relatively low taxes and location near New York City’s George Washington Bridge. But although she has dropped the price to $899,000, she has not found a buyer.

Sarkozi has not updated her house with all the extras some buyers seem to expect—whirlpool tubs in the bathroom, granite countertops in the kitchen. But she thinks they wouldn’t be happy anyway: “I’m convinced that even if I had granite countertops, they’d say, ‘You have gray—I wanted brown.’”

She has seen nearby properties go for $200,000 or more off their listing price. She figures those sellers may be under pressure to sell because of job losses or trouble paying the mortgage. She is not in that position, but the distressed sales are hurting the value of her property, she said.

“I have a sense that people are holding back to see how much lower things will go,” Sarkozi said. “It’s a waiting game. Your property is really worth what someone is willing to pay for it, but I’m not going to give it away. I’ve done everything I can and when it’s still not working, what am I supposed to do? Manufacture a buyer?

“It’s a very frustrating market right now, and I’m really not hopeful until I see an uptick in employment,” she continued. “I don’t expect to sell the house anytime soon. It may be spring before I sell it.”

Agents often remind sellers that the lower price they get when they sell will be offset by the lower price they will pay on the next property.

That’s the attitude of Samantha and John Karageorge, who have signed a contract to sell their 20-year-old Demarest, N.J., contemporary. They’re selling for less than what they’ve spent on the house, including the 2006 purchase price and the cost of extensive renovations.

An interior designer with S and S Designs, Samantha said she is looking for another house to improve. In the current market, she expects to find some attractive deals.

“This market is going to work to our benefit on the buy side this time,” she said.

But many sellers find it tough to keep that in mind when a buyer is low-balling them.

Some sellers face unusual challenges beyond the market climate. In Pompton Lakes, N.J., banker Keith Orotosky put his expanded Cape Cod on the market last May. The meticulously updated and landscaped house is on a dead-end street just a few blocks from the lake. But Orotosky has had no offers, despite lowering the price to $379,900.

The house is in the so-called plume area, where hazardous chemicals from a nearby defunct DuPont munitions factory have been seeping under houses. Orotosky accepted DuPont’s offer to install a venting system to draw the dangerous vapors out of the basement.

“But people look at Pompton Lakes, and say, ‘I don’t want it,’” Orotosky said. He added, half-seriously, “There’s only two sections—plume or flood.”

When Orotosky’s parents moved from Paterson, N.J., and bought the house in 1950, they weren’t concerned about the DuPont plant. “Who knew?” Orotosky said.

He said the closest thing he’s gotten to an offer was a prospective buyer who asked his agent if Orotosky would take $175,000—more than half off his asking price.

The Bolsches think their location, on Mahwah’s Stag Hill, is also working against them. Though they are only about two miles from Route 17 and Route 287, some prospective buyers find the area too rural; they say they want more of a “neighborhood” feel, with other kids nearby for their children to play with. Others say they are intimidated by the twisting road through the woods up the hill, although the Bolsches and their agent assure them that Mahwah keeps it clear during snowy weather.

Ken Bolsch, a former restaurateur and caterer, said he “felt like I was in Vermont” when he first saw the house. He and his wife bought it from the builder in February 2005, paying $812,000. The 4,000-square-foot house has granite countertops and other upscale touches, and is on a sloping lot studded with boulders and landscaped with stone walls. Its taxes are only $5,900—low for North Jersey.

In January, after deciding to move to Florida to help their son start a power-washing business, the couple put the house on the market for $925,000. “I knew that was kind of pie-in-the-sky, but I thought, ‘Let’s see what happens,’” Bolsch, recalled. “I thought we’d be out before Memorial Day.” But it’s still on the market, now at $749,000.

(c) 2010, North Jersey Media Group Inc.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.

Have you heard about RISMedia’s Real Estate Information Network® (RREIN)? RREIN is an elite network of leading real estate companies dedicated to providing consumers and their agents with leading real estate information, and committed to the belief that Information Share Equals Market Share. Having only launched this past June 2010, the RREIN network is already comprised of 30 leading brokerages, which make up 525 offices, 30,000 agents, 160,000 closings and represents over $40 billion in transactions. How can RREIN help your recruiting efforts and differentiate your company today? For more information, email rrein@rismedia.com.

Copyright© 2010 RISMedia, The Leader in Real Estate Information Systems and Real Estate News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be republished without permission from RISMedia.

 

 

Home Inspection for Sellers

Home Inspection for Sellers…

Here is another great video from RealEstate.aol.com

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                                                     Joanne Maley – Lincoln Maly Marketing

A Successful Garage Sale

How to Hold a Successful Garage Sale – from Realtor.org

 

 

 

 

Garage sales can be a great way to get rid of clutter — and earn a little extra cash — before you sell your home. But make sure the timing is right. Garage sales can take on a life of their own, and it might not be the best use of your energy right before putting your home on the market. Follow these tips for a successful sale.

1. Don’t wait until the last minute. You don’t want to be scrambling to hold a garage sale the week before an open house. Depending on how long you’ve lived in the home and how much stuff you have to sell, planning a garage sale can demand a lot of time and energy.

2. Get a permit. Most municipalities will require you to obtain a special permit or license in order to hold a garage sale. The permits are often free or very inexpensive, but still require you to register with the city.

3. See if neighbors want to join in. You can turn your garage sale into a block-wide event and lure more shoppers if you team up with neighbors. However, a permit may be necessary for each home owner, even if it’s a group event.

4. Schedule the sale. Sales on Saturdays and Sundays will generate the most traffic, especially if the weather cooperates. Start the sale early, 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. is best, and be prepared for early birds.

5. Advertise. Place an ad in free classified papers and Web sites, and in your local newspapers. Include the dates, time, and address. Let the public know if certain types of items will be sold, such as baby clothes, furniture, or weightlifting equipment. On the day of the sale, balloons and signs with prominent arrows will help to grab the attention of passersby.

6. Price your goods. Lay out everything that you plan to sell, and attach prices with removable stickers. Remember, garage sales are supposed to be bargains, so try to be objective as you set prices. Assign simple prices to your goods: 50 cents, 3 for $1, $5, $10, etc.

7. If it’s really junk, don’t sell it. Decide what’s worth selling and what’s not. If it’s really garbage, then throw it away. Broken appliances, for example, should be tossed. (Know where a nearby electrical outlet is, in case a customer wants to make sure something works.)

8. Check for mistakes. Make sure that items you want to keep don’t accidentally end up in the garage sale pile.

9. Create an organized display. Lay out your items by category, and display neatly so customers don’t have to dig through boxes.

10. Stock up on bags and newspapers. People who buy many small items will appreciate a bag to carry their goods. Newspapers are handy for wrapping fragile items.

11. Manage your money. Make a trip to the bank to get ample change for your cashbox. Throughout the sale, keep a close eye on your cash; never leave the cashbox unattended. It’s smart to have one person who manages the money throughout the day, keeping a tally of what was purchased and for how much. Keep a calculator nearby.

12. Prepare for your home sale. Donate the remaining stuff or sell it to a resale shop. Now that all of your clutter is cleared out, it’s time to focus on preparing your house for a successful sale!

Use a Realtor… or not

Use a Realtor… or not

Another fun video from HowRealtorsHelp.ca on You Tube….

Using a Realtor to Sell or Purchase a Home

Using a Realtor to Sell or Purchase a Home…

A just for fun You Tube Video from Power Sites – Watch and enjoying!

Why You Need a Realtor to Sell Your Home

Why you need a Realtor to sell your home…

Watch this funny You Tube Video –

Tips for Selling a Home in the Fall

Tips for Selling a Home in the Fall ~

                                                     Pink Sherbet Photography ~ Flickr.com

While Fall isn’t the hardest time for selling homes, it also isn’t the easiest.  Here are 10 tips from HGTV’s FrontDoor.com

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How to Stage a Home Yourself

How to Stage a Home Yourself…

                                                                   Real Estaging – Flickr.com

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                                                                     Hidesert – Flickr.com 

Another great post from www.ReatEstate.aol.com

Home Staging for Every Season

Home Staging for Every Season…

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                                                                    Ryan McD – Flickr.com

A great post from www.realestate.aol.com

Inside the Mind of an Appraiser

Inside the Mind of an Appraiser – a Video from ~ RealEstate.AOL.com

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                                                                      R. Clock – Flickr.com

Real Estate Appraisals 101

Real Estate Appraisals 101 – from AOL Real Estate…

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                                                                   lauren keith – Flickr.com

Speedy Cleaning Tips

From About.com : Housekeeping – Speedy Cleaning Tips

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Whether your entertaining and running late – or your home is up for sale and you have a last-minute request for a showing – here are some great – quick clean-up tips from About.com…

                                                          supershoppertoo – Flickr.com

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                                                              supershoppertoo – Flickr.com

Inexpensive Ways to Wow Buyers

If your looking to put your home on the market, here are some great tips from Realtor Magazine ~

10 Inexpensive Ways to Wow Buyers…

Daily Real Estate News  |  January 26, 2010

Ten Inexpensive Ways to Wow Buyers
Now is the time for home owners contemplating a spring sale to spruce up their properties in anticipation of what Mike Larson of Weiss Research calls a potentially vibrant home-selling season. “If you have been beating your head against a wall, this is going to feel a lot better,” he jokes.

Here are 10 cheap ways to make a property more attractive to shoppers.

1. Improve first impressions. Touch up the paint on the front door and other areas that buyers see first.
2. Clean up the landscaping. Trim the hedges and trees and plant some annuals in the flowerbeds.
3. Paint the interior. A coat of light yellow or cream with contrasting white woodwork looks fresh and clean.
4. Refurbish the floors. Buff the hardwoods. Install new carpets – or at least get them professionally cleaned.
5. Take care of the big problems. If the house needs a roof or the front stoop is crumbling, get them fixed.
6. Buy warranties. Putting appliances under warranty gives homebuyers a secure feeling.
7. Improve energy efficiency. New windows or improved insulation tell a potential buyer the seller is on top of things plus they come with tax benefits.
8. Replace light fixtures. Updated fixtures, especially at the entrance way and in the foyer, create a good first impression.
9. Buy a stove. Home owners whose kitchen isn’t top of the line can jazz it up for a few hundred dollars by buying a new stove, which gives the room a fresh feel.
10. Tidy up the bathrooms. Get rid of mildew, replace caulking and replace stained sinks.

Source: U.S. News & World Report, Luke Mullins (01/21/2010)

 

HomeGain.com – Top 5 Home Improvements

According to www.HomeGain.com survey – The Top 5 Home Improvements that Realtors recommend to home sellers based on cost and return on investment (from highest to lowest ROI) are: 

1. Cleaning and de-cluttering ($200 cost / $1,700 price increase / 872% ROI)
2. Home staging ($300 cost / $1,780 price increase / 586% ROI)
3. Lightening and brightening ($230 cost / $1,300 price increase / 572% ROI)
4. Landscaping ($320 cost / $1,500 price increase / 473% ROI)
5. Repairing plumbing ($385 cost / $1,250 price increase / 327% ROI) 

                           ~ CLICK ~ Here to view to entire list of Top 12 Do it Yourself projects ~

Selling Your Home During the Holidays

FrontDoor.com has the Top 10 Tips for Selling Your Home During the Holidays ~ CLICK ~

                                                                  Michele Eve – Flickr.com

Before we know it, the Holiday’s will be upon us – helpful ideas like these from FrontDoor.com

Home Selling Guide

In today’s market, selling your home can be a challenge.  From HGTV’S FrontDoor.com –

                                                                   Hyerfinch – Flickr.com

~ CLICK ~ to view helpful hints and ideas with their Home Seller’s Guide…

Zillow’s Zestimates

Zillow.com is a popular site for buyers looking for a home or sellers looking to sell their home.  Alot of questions have been asked about Zillow’s Zestimates and how accurate they are.

Watch this video to better understand why a Zestimate is an estimate of a homes value.

Front Door – Top 10 Strategies for Choosing a Realtor

HGTV’s FrontDoor.com lists the Top 10 Strategies for Choosing the Right Real Estate Agent – and I totally agree with all ten!

                                                                           ClipArt.com

Click here to view what you should be looking for in an agent – are they a full-time and full-service Realtor?  Are they networking on LinkedIn, Twitter and Face Book?  Do they have a BLOG?  Are they Tech-savvy?  Can and will they think like a buyer?   Are they understanding and do they listen?

                                                          Find me on Twitter…  DianaSantosC21

 

 

 

 Find me on Face Book…  Diana Alves Santos

                                  

 

                               Find me on LinkedIn…  Diana Santos

Home buying & selling can be a long and frustrating process – so choose someone your comfortable with and that will do their best to smooth the bumps along the way of buying and selling your home.

5 Inexpensive Staging Tips from TLC

Here is 5 Inexpensive Staging Tips from TLC to help sell your home!

These do-it-yourself tips from TLC can make all the difference in getting your Home SOLD!

Finding a Good Real Estate Agent

Finding a good Real Estate Agent can be tricky.  You can start your search on the web, maybe by company – like Century 21, then by state and finally narrowing it to a certain town or area(s) your interested in.  Lets say Putnam County in New York in either Brewster, Patterson, Carmel, Kent, Mahopac, Putnam Valley   –  Century 21 VJF Realty handles all these areas – along with Westchester, Dutchess, Columbia and Ulster counties in New York – and counties through out Connecticut.

After finding a Real Estate office your comfortable with, now you can search for a Realtor – one that suits the needs of their clients, being available evenings, weekends and holidays – a full time agent.  Maybe you prefer someone who has experience, is full of knowledge, energetic, is up on all that is going on in TODAY’S market – including foreclosures, short sales and the explosion of networking with Facebook, Twitter, Active Rain, has a website and/or a Blog!  If not, then at least consider an agent that has a computer at home so they have access to getting  info at all times – and – a cell phone!

As a Realtor, I have come across agents that DO NOT HAVE A CELL PHONE – or don’t give out their cell phone number – or turn off their phones at 6pm – ??  Others that leave their laptop in the office, therefore not having access to the Multiple Listing Service until they’re back in the office – Mmmm??  In my book, these agents are part timers – not full time agents.  I’m sure they have their reasons, and my guess is it works for them and they’re OK with it.  But, if your not, make sure sure you ask questions BEFORE you set up an appointment to meet and go out with a Realtor.  Ask why they got into Real Estate – because they love looking at houses and they can make their own hours – or – because they are passionate about selling homes, they eat, sleep and dream of Real Estate!  Ask if they would be available when it’s convenient for YOU – what time can you call them until – what areas do they show and sell in.  Also, while getting to know them, see if they seem honest, have a sense of humor, patience and are they LISTENING to you and what YOU need – you’ll appreciate all of these qualities in an agent to get you through the process of buying and/or selling your home which can be one of the most complex and significant financial event in your life!

Selling Your Home in Spring Tips

                                                        Noel Zia Lee – Flickr.com

Spring is here and historically it is when most buyers are out looking for homes to move into during the warm weather and others hoping to move in before the kids start school. 

If your looking to sell your home…

FrontDoor.com – 6 Staging Tips for Selling your home in the Spring market <CLICK>

                                                supershopperstoo – Flickr.com

For a FREE Comparative Marketing Analysis in the Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess County areas – and/or – Fairfield and parts of Litchfield Counties in Connecticut– Feel free to contact me for a confidential CMA.                    

                   Diana… cell: 203-648-2619       E-Mail: Diana.Santos@Century21.com

Tax Tips for Home Buyers, Sellers and Owners

I receive numerous e-mails daily.  Many are of helpful tips and important information.

                                                               peregrine blue – Flickr.com

FrontDoor.com has 10 Tax Tips for Home Buyers, Sellers and Owners <CLICK>

                                                                      Rachaelvoorhees – Flickr.com

Please be sure to check or contact your accountant, to see if these new laws apply to you and if your eligible. 

Search for HOMES like an agent – Free LISTING BOOK in NY

Would you like to search for Homes in the Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess county areas in New York  just like I do?  With listings that are updated every 30 minutes on the Multiple Listing Service, you will see what I do through LISTING BOOK.

The Westchester/Putnam MLS has been working side by side with Listing Book for 2 years and the phenomenon has arrived!

Click Here for a link to your *****FREE***** Listing Book account!

Please keep in mind that if your no longer want your Listing Book account, you will always have the option to opt out.

The Dream to Homeownership is just a click away…