Category Archives: Sellers
Want to Sell your House? Here are some Tips
Take some lessons from my client. Seriously.
I’m going to be writing (in a few weeks) a longer post about the process, but for now … spend some time reading her posts.
Sellers – Don’t Have Stinky Houses, Take 2
After counting 12 of these in a vacant house I was showing last weekend, I thought re-visiting an old topic was timely.
If you’re selling your house, don’t do this.
Here are five reasons to avoid using air fresheners.
- Smelly things – plug-ins, air fresheners, etc are not good when you’re trying to sell your home.
- They don’t smell good.
- They make buyers question what you’re hiding.
- They detract from our ability to focus on the house because the smell is so overwhelming.
- They’re bad (from a “I’m trying to have my house present as well as possible perspective).
I wrote “Sellers don’t have Stinky Houses” several years ago, and if you’re curious to see how bad video was even a couple years ago, have a look.
How to Sell a House in 21 Days
I started to write this post in early November, soon after my clients and I ratified the contract on their house and right about when the story was published on the Newsplex. I almost didn’t do the Newsplex story.* (see the end of this post for the rationale)
A few of my rules for real estate:
“Under Contract” ≠ “Sold”:
- “Under Contract” means: “we need to get through the loan application, loan commitment (including appraisal), home inspection and any other contingencies.
Most importantly – What did we do to get a contract on this house in three weeks? Put simply:
1: My clients worked hard. For a long time; we met last year and discussed strategies for getting their home ready to put on the market, the value of pricing the home right, what they needed to do and what I needed to do to prepare for the marketing of their home.
2: We priced it right; tracking the real estate market, the sold competition and most importantly, the active and under contract competition.
3: We worked the first offer we got. One of the real estate truisms is that the first offer is usually the best offer; you might not get another offer.
4: We got lucky with the buyer’s agent; she’s one of the best in the area and that was one of the factors we evaluated when evaluating the offer. I’m probably going to touch on this aspect in a later, separate post, but the quality and competence of the opposing real estate agent matters. If I can advise my clients that there is a reasonable expectation that the transaction will go relatively smoothly in part because the other agent agent is competent, that’s a serious component we evaluate. (as a contrast, if I don’t know or trust the other agent, that’s a factor as well)
5: My clients worked really, really hard and were realistic about the market and their expectations. I can’t emphasize this one enough. Selling a house is hard work – for the sellers and their representation. Being willing and able to work, be realistic and reasonable is invaluable.
6: Lastly – price absolutely matters, but it’s not always the most important factor. (as an aside, my feelings from the linked post regarding other agents’ competencies have shifted quite dramatically as I have gained much more experience; when I wrote that I had been in the business just over three years; now I’m entering my 11th year)
Thinking about Buying or Selling in the Spring?
If you’re thinking about buying a home or selling a home in the Charlottesville area in the spring, these are three stories of interest:
1 – When do homes come on the market in Charlottesville? Short answer: Spring. Longer answer: look at the data.
2 – Preparing to Sell a House in Charlottesville – Step one: start the process now. (get the right representation)
3 – Preparing to buy a home in Charlottesville – Step one: ask questions. Step two. Get representation.
There is sooo much more to write, (I’m approaching the 7 year anniversary of this little blog) but … Continue reading…
FHA and Condos in Charlottesville – Are they Eligible?
Guest post from Matt Hodges with Presidential Mortgage*:
Condominiums are a challenge to finance through FHA. Condominiums had a brief period when lenders overlooked eligibility and approved every loan, as long as the borrower was qualified – that period ended some four years ago.
Today, condominiums are one of the most difficult forms of residential real estate to finance, perhaps with manufactured housing more difficult. Using a search of “Charlottesville” condominiums in the FHA search tool, 19 condominium complexes appear. Hey, good news, right? Not so quick. Eight of those complexes have expired and four more will … Continue reading…
Should Sellers be More Patient?
Should people really be cutting their prices to sell their houses?
Answer: Yes.
5 Things to Do NOW If You’re Putting your House on the Market in the Spring
1 – Take pictures now.
2 – Start conserving energy and water. “How much does it cost to operate this home”? is one of the most common questions buyers are asking now.
3 – Do those things now that you’ve been meaning to do since you moved in. You know: caulking around the windows, replacing that screen, putting that threshold back … you know the list.
4 – Start going to open houses. Look at comparable homes. Ask a good Realtor for advice. You might think this home is a comp, but really, it’s not because of all … Continue reading…
