Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Setting the Stage For A Successful Sale
Believe it or not, spring will be coming soon and if your home is going to go on the market, now is a good time to consider "staging" it to give it an edge with buyers.
There are professional Stagers who will, for a fee, come in and evaluate your home, advise on changes and do the work involved. Not every home's needs are that extreme however. If you can be objective about your space, there are lots of small changes you can make yourself that will help sell your home.
Ask your agent for advice, they have seen it all and want to help you to a successful closing.
There are professional Stagers who will, for a fee, come in and evaluate your home, advise on changes and do the work involved. Not every home's needs are that extreme however. If you can be objective about your space, there are lots of small changes you can make yourself that will help sell your home.
- Remember above all 'staging' is NOT decorating. It is less personal than decorating. When you decorate your home it is a reflection of you, your family, your life. When you are staging your home you are trying to encourage your buyer to see themselves in the space.
- Showings are typically fairly short periods of time. You need to make a good first impression so pay attention to entryways, declutter kitchen counters and take care of any obvious bad odors-this is not the time for the litter box to be ready for a cleaning.
- If you have a package of "break and bake cookies" in the fridge and 20 minutes or so you can create a warm cozy feeling via your potential buyers nose. A fresh pot of coffee can have a similar effect. Just keep smells simple and think about things that seem to be pleasing universally if you are going to try this. Your family may love fish frys, but the smell is probably less generally appealing!
- Clear the paper work from your desk and the family photos and kids drawings from the fridge. Pack these personal things away so that you can get them out again sooner in your new home.
- Make the bed, everyday and depersonalize the bedroom too. Don't just stuff it in the closet because potential buyers will look in there too.
Ask your agent for advice, they have seen it all and want to help you to a successful closing.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Thing's Are Looking Up
During the early part of this decade, it was not uncommon when driving in my town to get caught by several fully loaded freight trains every day. It was frustrating, but a common fact of life in our little town. Your tardiness was easily explained by one word-train.
When the down turn began there was at first a subtle shift in train traffic, almost unnoticed. As the bottom approached, travel by car was almost unimpeded by trains-their whistles were rare-maybe once a week you had to sit waiting for a train to pass. On one of those occasions it dawned on me that the lack of trains was a sad indicator that business was slowly coming to a halt. Not much need for lumber, car haulers were much less frequent and coal traffic was way down as well.
Things are getting better. Although employment figures are still pretty dismal, there are some signs that the economy is improving.
GM's early emergence from bankruptcy/restructuring and improved sales figures for domestic auto's from GM, Ford and Chrysler are a good first step. *Dokka Fasteners Inc. - The new-to-Michigan manufacturer of hot-formed bolts primarily for the wind industry- plans to invest $21 million to establish a manufacturing, coating and distribution operation in Auburn Hills. Health care has become Michigans' biggest jobs provider, passing the slimmer ranks of auto related jobs. All of this makes us a more diverse economy and may attract other business and increase housing needs. So now when I get caught by a fully loaded train, (and that is happening much more often) I take a deep breath, put it in park and say a little thank you because things are looking up.
* Source GovMonitor.com
When the down turn began there was at first a subtle shift in train traffic, almost unnoticed. As the bottom approached, travel by car was almost unimpeded by trains-their whistles were rare-maybe once a week you had to sit waiting for a train to pass. On one of those occasions it dawned on me that the lack of trains was a sad indicator that business was slowly coming to a halt. Not much need for lumber, car haulers were much less frequent and coal traffic was way down as well.
Things are getting better. Although employment figures are still pretty dismal, there are some signs that the economy is improving.
GM's early emergence from bankruptcy/restructuring and improved sales figures for domestic auto's from GM, Ford and Chrysler are a good first step. *Dokka Fasteners Inc. - The new-to-Michigan manufacturer of hot-formed bolts primarily for the wind industry- plans to invest $21 million to establish a manufacturing, coating and distribution operation in Auburn Hills. Health care has become Michigans' biggest jobs provider, passing the slimmer ranks of auto related jobs. All of this makes us a more diverse economy and may attract other business and increase housing needs. So now when I get caught by a fully loaded train, (and that is happening much more often) I take a deep breath, put it in park and say a little thank you because things are looking up.
* Source GovMonitor.com
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Why Real Estate, Why Now?
The unusual (many think tragic) current residential real estate market has impacted our industry in many ways.
One of the most obvious to me has been the number of Real Estate Agents who are getting out of the business, letting their licenses lapse and moving on. Agents spend a great deal of time and money to become licensed and to remain licensed. There are fees for almost every aspect of the process. There are required continuing education and marketing expenses, communication tool costs like a website, smart phone even down to postage for the neighborly newsletters some agents use to communicate with potential and past clients. The list goes on and on.
One can look on the loss of some agents as a natural selection process, only the strongest survive. Some might never have made it as full time professional REALTORS anyway. Many of them dove into the pool when deals and money were plentiful and frankly, it was not terribly difficult to close a sale.
You might be amazed then that Brokers continue to successfully recruit folks new to the business. Why would anyone want to become a REALTOR in this market? The answer to that is as varied as the folks who show up for pre license training.
The drive to "be your own boss" is a very American attitude. The freedom to succeed or fail based on your own efforts appeals to a lot of folks, particularly in a world where company provided pensions and lifelong employment situations are becoming very scarce. If you can't find a job, becoming a licensed agent is a sure way to create your own job.
I spoke with a new agent regarding why in the world he would choose now to get into the game. Although he was never "in" real estate before, he had a great deal of sales background. He left an unsatisfactory employment relationship in order to use his talents to benefit himself and his family. He sited the plus side of the down market as giving him plenty of time to learn, develop his knowledge of real estate and to set the stage to be "out of the gate" long before his competition when the market improves. I think he is dead on. He joined up at the perfect time. It will be very interesting to watch these new entrepreneurs grow.
One of the most obvious to me has been the number of Real Estate Agents who are getting out of the business, letting their licenses lapse and moving on. Agents spend a great deal of time and money to become licensed and to remain licensed. There are fees for almost every aspect of the process. There are required continuing education and marketing expenses, communication tool costs like a website, smart phone even down to postage for the neighborly newsletters some agents use to communicate with potential and past clients. The list goes on and on.
One can look on the loss of some agents as a natural selection process, only the strongest survive. Some might never have made it as full time professional REALTORS anyway. Many of them dove into the pool when deals and money were plentiful and frankly, it was not terribly difficult to close a sale.
You might be amazed then that Brokers continue to successfully recruit folks new to the business. Why would anyone want to become a REALTOR in this market? The answer to that is as varied as the folks who show up for pre license training.
The drive to "be your own boss" is a very American attitude. The freedom to succeed or fail based on your own efforts appeals to a lot of folks, particularly in a world where company provided pensions and lifelong employment situations are becoming very scarce. If you can't find a job, becoming a licensed agent is a sure way to create your own job.
I spoke with a new agent regarding why in the world he would choose now to get into the game. Although he was never "in" real estate before, he had a great deal of sales background. He left an unsatisfactory employment relationship in order to use his talents to benefit himself and his family. He sited the plus side of the down market as giving him plenty of time to learn, develop his knowledge of real estate and to set the stage to be "out of the gate" long before his competition when the market improves. I think he is dead on. He joined up at the perfect time. It will be very interesting to watch these new entrepreneurs grow.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
What makes a community attractive?
Forbes, Money, USA Today-you name 'em, about this time every year they publish "Lists".
"10 Best Community's", "Most Livable City's" or for those on the unlucky side of the coin, "Ten Worst Towns!"
I admit that I look at these list's, scan the article to see what the criteria was, who's judging.
If my city makes the good list I am pleased; the bad list, quietly outraged. Perhaps it's irrational, but I sort of take these things personally.
What makes a Top Ten Hometown for you? Schools? Shopping? Nightlife? If you were moving, what things would you investigate before making your choice? Go ahead, post...
"10 Best Community's", "Most Livable City's" or for those on the unlucky side of the coin, "Ten Worst Towns!"
I admit that I look at these list's, scan the article to see what the criteria was, who's judging.
If my city makes the good list I am pleased; the bad list, quietly outraged. Perhaps it's irrational, but I sort of take these things personally.
What makes a Top Ten Hometown for you? Schools? Shopping? Nightlife? If you were moving, what things would you investigate before making your choice? Go ahead, post...
Friday, February 4, 2011
How much is too much online?
I was reading in REALTOR Magazine about blogging, social networking and the relative safety or lack there of when you put TMI online.
In relationship to your where abouts at a given time, especially going on vacation type posts or posts from your vacation stops-it seems fairly obvious that you should exercise caution, possibly don't post at all until you are safely home and have the pictures!
But what about pictures of your very high end listings? Is a picture of the "mansion on main street's" multi- media room worth a thousand showings or a break-in waiting to happen? The obvious answer is don't over share, serious lookers/buyers will have a reputable agent contact you for a showing. The advice from REALTOR Magazine is to have seller stow obvious valuables out of the camera's view for those "glamour shots". What do you think?
In relationship to your where abouts at a given time, especially going on vacation type posts or posts from your vacation stops-it seems fairly obvious that you should exercise caution, possibly don't post at all until you are safely home and have the pictures!
But what about pictures of your very high end listings? Is a picture of the "mansion on main street's" multi- media room worth a thousand showings or a break-in waiting to happen? The obvious answer is don't over share, serious lookers/buyers will have a reputable agent contact you for a showing. The advice from REALTOR Magazine is to have seller stow obvious valuables out of the camera's view for those "glamour shots". What do you think?
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
SNOW DAY!!
Where did my joy for the snow day go? Perhaps it went into the tank of the snow blower and was sent flying off the driveway with the snow flakes. Weather like we are experiencing here in Michigan does make me realize that properties for sale in the winter require extra care both by the homeowner or if the home is empty, the agent selling it. Uncleared snow is a dangerous advertisement for an empty home and a hassle for potential buyers who would like to look at it. Folks who slip and fall trying to get into your listing are not likely to lay there and make a snow angel!
Clients dragging snow and salt onto the floors or worse the carpet, in your listing is also a problem this time of year. Perhaps those disposable slip-on shoe covers are a good investment; if the listing is occupied, the homeowner will applaud your thoughtfulness and your clients will feel grateful they don't have to "barefoot" in order to check everything out.
Think I'll go make some tea and see if it's stopped snowing yet...
Clients dragging snow and salt onto the floors or worse the carpet, in your listing is also a problem this time of year. Perhaps those disposable slip-on shoe covers are a good investment; if the listing is occupied, the homeowner will applaud your thoughtfulness and your clients will feel grateful they don't have to "barefoot" in order to check everything out.
Think I'll go make some tea and see if it's stopped snowing yet...
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