When selling a property, chances are the main photo for the home will be the outside. Most multiple listing services require either the front of the house or the view from the house as the first listing photo, so, you better make sure that your landscaping and curb appeal is on point. Most buyers will decide within the first five seconds of looking at the home whether or not they’re interested, which is why your landscaping and curb appeal should never be neglected. Here are some serious landscaping and curb appeal hacks that will totally change the way people look at your home. [Read more…]
Simple Landscaping and Staging Tips for Selling a House
Selling? Maybe you just don’t want your house to look like a maple tree shed all over the property. Whatever the case, there are ways to spruce up your home’s curb appeal and landscaping regardless of the time or year. Here are some of our best secrets!
House Not Selling? Here’s What You Can Do
If you have a home in Pleasanton, San Ramon, Livermore or surrounding Tri-Valley cities and towns and it’s not selling there could be a variety of reasons why. The central California real estate market is hot and prices are going through the roof and homes are selling fast but if yours is not there could be several reasons why. It’s time to step back, take a good look at your home and find out why your home may not be selling.
#1. Adjust the price.
It may simply be time to adjust the price. If you started at a decent price but your agent feels it may still be too high, it probably is. Real estate agents spend most of their time running comparable sales in the area, researching the market and have a pretty good idea of what will sell and what won’t sell. By adjusting your price to where it should be or even slightly lower, you’re more likely to get the right buyers in the door.
#2. Take a look at the photos.
Do the real estate photos really set your home apart from your closest competition? In today’s real estate market many real estate agents and homeowners are taking professional photos of their home in order to draw in the right buyers. Take a look at your home during different times of the day in different light. This can greatly affect the look and feel of your home. Make sure that the photos are professionally taken and really are sharp, clear and show your home in the best light. Also, take a look at the room in the picture; is a clean, neat and tidy? Are toilet seats put down, garbage put away and counters and tables cleared off? The picture might be of great quality but if what it’s showing is a mess, buyers still won’t want to come close.
#3. Does the condition of your home match the price?
Do you want top dollar for your home? Then you have to present it as such. Real estate agents will be honest with you and tell you that if you want a certain price, you need to make your house rise to the occasion. Does the home warrant a high price tag? Has it been updated? Is it clean, neat and organized? Is it professionally staged? All of these things can affect your price and if you don’t present your home in a way that matches your perceived value, you simply won’t get any offers.
#4. The location or layout is funky.
This may not be something that you can change at all but it probably will affect your ability to get an offer. That being said, the only way to compensate for an odd layout or bad location is to adjust the price. Unless you want to take the time to remodel your home, adjusting the price may be the only way to get an offer. I know that’s not the ideal option but emphasizing the positive features of the home is a great way to overcompensate for the negative aspects such as living by a busy road, or an odd layout such as a bathroom off of the kitchen.
Related: 10 Must-Haves All Buyers Want in a Home
There’s usually always something that is preventing a home from selling. Finding that out as soon as you can will help you adjust where you need to in order to get it sold.
Call me today to discuss home prices in your area and what you’re home may sell for.
6 Kitchen Upgrades Without the Remodel
Whether you are planning on selling your property or just looking for a fresh look without a major remodel, doing small things that help update the look and feel of your kitchen is one of the best ways to improve the home. We’re seeing a lot of new construction around the Tri-Valley area and buyers are looking for updated, renovated, or upgraded materials. If you’re looking to put a little bit of elbow grease and possibly a little money into your kitchen, you can do some upgrades without breaking the budget with a full remodel. Here are six kitchen upgrades that you can do without a full remodel. [Read more…]
The Real Reason Your House Isn’t Selling
House been on the market for a long time? Maybe just a few weeks without any bites? Perhaps you’re just setting yourself up for success when you do list? Whatever the reason is that you’re selling, you certainly don’t want to be on the market any longer than you have to.
In doing research yesterday I came across several houses that have been on the market for more than a year. That’s very unusual in this hot market. Even most markets around the US are seeing a four-month absorption rate, meaning that if no new listings hit the market today, it would only take less than four months to completely eliminate every listing on the market. So, what is up with these houses that have been on the market 300 – 400 days or more?
In my experience it really only comes down to three things:
4 Simple Curb Appeal Tips to Attract Buyers
You have just 5 to 10 second to capture a potential buyer by either the way your home looks as they drive by or in pictures on the Internet or in print. This is why curb appeal is so important. You don’t want people to pass by your home and not stop, look and want to know more. Yet, how can you appeal to a wide range of homebuyers and capture them simply on your curb appeal? Here are some simple and easy tips to captivate buyers and attract more eyes on to your property. [Read more…]
How to Upgrade Your Home Without Spending a Lot of Money
10 Most Popular Home Improvement Projects
Whether you are buying or selling improving your home and touching things up is really a good way to either fall in love with your home again or spruce it up for buyers. If you’re looking at tackling some home improvement projects these of the 10 most popular renovations.
10 most popular home improvement projects:
5 Signs You’re Ready to Sell Your House
Have you been on the fence about selling your house for the last few months? There are some pretty good telltale signs that it’s time to list and sell your home so here are the five biggest signs that it’s time to sell. [Read more…]
Who Pays the Property Tax When You Buy or Sell a House?
All homeowners must pay property tax. But when you buy and sell a home, especially in the middle of the year, who’s responsible for the property taxes?
Property taxes are typically paid twice a year and they are paid in advance. Payments are due on the first day of March and the first day of September. Many homeowners will have their real estate taxes and homeowners insurance wrapped into their monthly mortgage payment, even though they don’t actually pay monthly on their property taxes. An escrow account is set up to make those by annual payments and if there’s any money left over, homeowners typically get a refund. Typically, the closing on a home sale will fall somewhere between the middle of attacks. So there’s either money that’s already been paid towards taxes or money that will be left over. [Read more…]
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