Mar 23, 2016 | Home Seller Tips
Pick The Right Light
It won’t even be worth your while to pick up the camera if the lighting is off, so make sure you capture your home in the middle of the day when natural light is at its peak. Instead of morning or night, when spaces can appear dim, turn on the lights during the day, let the sunlight flow in and shoot away!
Keep It Clutter Free
While it’s common sense to clean up your home before committing anything to photography, it’s also important to be aware of any items that may catch the eye of the viewer and deflect interest away from your property. While there may be certain things you’re used to, if they stand out in the picture it might be better to move them outside of the frame.
Don’t Forget The Details
It’s easy to be focused on the exterior and room shots, but a few minor details here and there can give the viewer a better feel for your home, and may enable them to remember it. If you have striking kitchen tiles or a claw foot tub, don’t forget to add up-close images of these to your listing.
Capture The Exterior
The rooms and amenities of your house are definitely going to be what piques the buyer’s interest, but don’t forget about the exterior in all the shuffle. The outside of your home is the first thing that potential buyers will see, so catch it during the last hour of sunlight for maximum effect.
Hire A Professional
It’s entirely possible that you’re so busy looking for homes and getting organized that taking pictures is just another task to add to the list. Instead of taking on the photography yourself, you may want to contact a professional to do it for you who will know all the tricks of the trade.
The best impression your house will make should be in person, but it’s important to have great listing photos so you can draw potential buyers in. If you’re getting ready to put your home on the market, you may want to contact one of our real estate professionals for more information.
Mar 16, 2016 | Home Seller Tips
There are many great ways to stage your home that will immediately interest viewers, but some have the power to engage the senses and impress potential buyers all the more. Whether you’ve already put your home on the market or are looking for insider tips when you do, here are some ways to sway the eyes, ears and noses of the buyers you’re looking for.
Textures And Fabrics That Compliment
There is probably a certain kind of buyer you’ll have in mind when deciding to stage your home, so it’s important to keep in mind how your house might appear to them. While differing textures and fabrics can certainly add depth and character to a home, you’ll want to ensure that they are also flattering to each other and compliment the style already apparent in your design aesthetic.
Keep It Clutter Free And Clean
Few things are more likely to assault the eye of a potential buyer than a house that is full of trinkets and general clutter. Instead of leaving it up to the viewer to unearth what’s great about your property, be sure to do a cleanup beforehand and walk into your house as if you’re seeing it for the first time. If your eye gets caught on a pile of magazines or the gadgets left in the front entrance, it may be a good idea to clear some of it away.
Whip Up A Batch Of Baked Goods
Most buyers will be drawn into a home if they can imagine themselves in it, and few things will have a more positive effect than the way that it smells. Instead of using an air freshener, go for the naturally baked scent of a batch of cookies or muffins to provide the sense of something homemade. If your potential buyers are bakers, they will instantly be able to imagine themselves in your home; if not, they’ll be tempted by it either way.
It certainly helps the market value of your home to have an organized exterior and an up-to-date kitchen, but drawing a potential buyer’s senses into the mix can have a particularly positive impact on their interest level. It may even lead to a sale at the price you were looking for! If you’re currently perusing the real estate market for home options in your area, you may want to contact your local real estate professional for more information.
Mar 15, 2016 | Home Seller Tips
From real estate agents to home buyers, there are so many tips out there on how to sell your home that it can be overwhelming to determine which tricks will boost your success rate and make the sale. If you’re looking for a few sure-fire hacks for getting your home off the market quickly, the following may do a lot of the hard work for you so that selling won’t remain a worry for long.
Stick To A Neutral Palette
Neutral colors like white and grey may seem like a boring approach to design, but they’re actually a great way to grab a potential buyer’s attention. While an especially bold color like red or dark blue can distract the viewer, neutral tones will not jar the eye and will enable the viewer to see the features that your home truly offers. Instead of a space they can’t see for the color, they’ll be able to pay attention to the details that really matter.
Discard The Oversized Items
Most of us have an old, bulky piece of furniture that we still haven’t bothered to get rid of, but when preparing your home for viewings you may want to finally let go of this ostentatious piece. A bulky furniture item will make an undersized space look even smaller, whereas – in a large, sprawling space – it will swallow the size of the room. Instead of a large-scale item, stick to classy, medium-sized pieces that will effectively complement each other.
Keep Personal Items To A Minimum
It may seem like personalizing your home, from pictures all over the fridge to movie posters, will add to its appeal, but it can actually take away from the impression that potential buyers will get. While a home that has a few personal touches here and there can make it more memorable, too many of these little details may actually make the viewer feel out of place. Since the end goal is an offer on your home, enabling potential buyers to imagine themselves in your space is key.
There are an endless amount of tricks involved in a successful home sale, but there are a few little hacks you can do that may work wonders on the minds of potential buyers. If you’re almost ready to put your home on the market and are considering your options for selling, please feel free to contact us for more information.
Mar 9, 2016 | Home Seller Tips
The real estate market and all the things involved in selling a home can seem complicated, and it can be very hard to know which tips to trust. While there’s plenty of great advice to go around from many knowledgeable sources, here are some of the best tips from home sellers who have made a successful sale.
Research Your Local Agents
When considering an agent that will meet your home-selling needs, it can be tempting to go with someone familiar or recommended through a friend who seems like a safe bet. However, it’s important to do your research and find an agent who has a number of “Sold” homes under their belt. Create a list of agents you’re impressed by and take note of their sales and agent fees, and keep in mind that you may want to lean towards an agent who has expertise in your neighborhood.
Get A Second Opinion On Price
Before you have an agent appraise the value of your home, it’s worthwhile doing some research on your end to determine the approximate value of your property. Once you’ve arrived at a figure, bring in the agents you’ve selected to appraise the value of your property. If one price is significantly higher than the other, it may be a red flag that an agent is trying to win over your business, regardless of whether the sale price is reasonable. In this case, you will want to choose the agent that provides the most appropriate appraisal.
Be House Ready At All Times
Having potential buyers view your home will certainly make the idea of selling it real, so make sure that it is ready for viewing at any time. If a potential buyer cannot view your property or has to work around your schedule constantly to arrange viewings, there’s a pretty good chance that you may lose out on some good home offers. Instead of missing out, provide a set of keys to your real estate agent so they can show people around your home when you’re not around. This should automatically increase the likelihood of an offer on your home.
Heading into the real estate market can be a matter of trepidation if you’re not sure what to do, but by researching your agents and being prepared you’ll increase your chances of success. If you’re almost ready to put your home on the market, you may want to contact one of our local real estate professionals for more information.
Mar 3, 2016 | Home Seller Tips
Whether you’re familiar with the market or you’ve never sold a home before, an effective real estate agent can be exactly the thing you need to make for a positive market experience. With the world of real estate in a constant state of flux, here are a few reasons why the right agent can successfully guide you through the muddled waters of the market.
A Skill For Communication
In the case that the real estate market makes you nervous, it’s particularly important to have the kind of agent who will keep you in the loop and give you the information you need to make an informed selling decision. An agent with the powers of communication will be able to give you honest advice when it’s required, like if it’s time to lower the price of your house, so that you can have success in achieving the offer you’re looking for.
A Willingness To Work Hard
There are many agents out there who won’t be willing to put in additional effort for a client, but the kind of agent you’ll want to choose should be someone who is a go-getter and will chase potential business for you. Instead of waiting around, an ideal agent should be following up with potential buyers and ensuring that they’re chasing any leads that may guarantee the purchase of your home. If you have to ask them to be proactive, they’re probably not the right person for the job.
A Bevy Of Client References
A real estate agent that is worth their salt should not hesitate to provide you with client references so you can make an informed, educated decision. Instead of asking for their personal references, though, request the names of their last ten clients as this should give you a pretty good grasp of what their capacities as an agent are, and how they will serve you. If they are cagey about providing references, you’ll want to move on to your next potential agent.
The real estate market is rife with a lot of things to know and it can be complicated to jump into the tides, but the right agent can actually make the process of selling your home a lot less stressful. If you’re currently looking for homes and are not sure where to turn, you may want to contact one of our real estate professionals for more scoop on the market.
Feb 17, 2016 | Home Seller Tips
Since most homeowners would like their home to sell at a reasonable price and in a reasonable time, one of the struggles of putting a home on the market is determining the perfect price. Whether your house has been on the market for a while or you’re just readying yourself for what comes next, here are some reasons that it may be time to re-consider your price.
How Long Has It Been?
A house that has been placed on the market will attract the most attention within the first 21 days, so if this period has passed and you still have no potential buyers, it might be a good idea to ponder price. While no offers at this time doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to lower your price, you may want to revisit the cost other houses in the area sold for and decide from here how much longer you’ll wait before receiving an offer.
Is It A Buyer’s Market?
When putting your home on the market, there will certainly be a value in mind that you will want to sell it for. However, if you’re currently in a buyer’s market and there is a lot for sale, it’s possible that the price you’re looking for is not something you’re going to be offered. For this reason, it’s important to look at what the market is like in your neighborhood and city. As the housing market is constantly shifting, this means you should be on top of it so you can adjust your price when needed.
Do You Have A Timeline In Mind?
Homeowners often have a timeline for when they want to sell their home by, but life can sometimes get in the way and make for the necessity of a swift sale. Whether family issues or a new job have appeared on the horizon, lowering the sale of your home can be a good option to get your house off the market more quickly. You may not get the exact price you were hoping for, but there are situations where waiting for the extra money may not be worth it.
If you’re selling your home and are re-considering your price, it’s a good idea to stay on top of market trends and determine your circumstances before sticking to your original estimate. If you’re going to be looking for a new home in the near future, you may want to contact one of our local real estate professionals for more information.
