Author: Shannon

What if we told you that you could turn $402 in cleaning supplies into $2,024 extra in the sale of your home, just by cleaning your house?

A home improvement study performed by a real estate portal revealed just how much you can net just by performing the basics.

Imagine how much more you’d realize if you went beyond just decluttering and cleaning. Staging the home is the next logical step once you have it clean and sparkling.

The psychology of homebuyers is complicated but two things a seller can count on include:

1. They want a home they can move right in to without hiring a cleaning crew first.
2. They want to picture themselves living in the home, surrounded by their belongings.

These feelings are so pervasive among buyers that 63% of potential homebuyers surveyed by Maritz, a marketing research firm, said they would be willing to pay more for a home they perceive to be turn-key.

Staging the home meets both of the goals for the buyer.

What is home staging?

Staging a home for sale creates the best first impression possible, from the moment a potential buyer comes in the front door.

A home stager’s goal is multi-pronged:

• Make the home appear well cared-for
• Create a light and bright atmosphere
• Showcase the lifestyle the home offers
• Depersonalize the home just enough to allow buyers to envision how they can personalize it to their liking.

Home stagers are experts at drawing the eye to the positive aspects of the home while downplaying those that are less attractive.

The costs of staging a home

The cost of hiring a professional home staging service varies widely, depending on the scope of the project. A vacant home costs more to stage than one that is occupied and furnished. A large home will cost more to stage than a small home. The price varies by region as well.

Fixr.com claims that the “national average cost” will run you $1,500 with the average range between $1,000 and $3,000. The lowest cost they found was $200 and the high end a whopping $10,000.

Then there is the research published at HomeAdvisor.com. They’ve found that home sellers can expect to pay between $750 and $2,829, with an average cost of $1,731.

The site also offers a staging calculator that you can set to get local costs.

Since some stagers charge by the month after the initial staging, the cost in the long run could be higher.

There are ways to get around the high cost of home staging

Staging is almost a must for luxury homes. Low- and mid-priced homeowners, however, can get a bit creative in their staging choices.

First, consider paying a professional stager for a consultation. It’s worth the money spent to pick the brains of an expert.

Then, take his or her tips and make staging a DIY project.

If you’re on a tight budget, consider staging only key rooms, such as the entryway, living room and kitchen.

DIY staging doesn’t have to be expensive, however. Use the furniture you already own and then raid friends’ and relatives’ attics and storage containers to find accessories.

You’ll find DIY home staging tips online at familyhandyman.com, realsimple.com and hgtv.com.

Benefits of home staging

Two thousand dollars. That’s roughly the return you’ll realize when you sell your staged home. The more you invest in staging, the higher the return.

How much higher? According to an industry survey (Home Staging Resource), homes that are staged tend to sell for between 6% and 25% more than non-staged homes.

Keep this in mind before you dismiss staging because of the cost.

Since homes are staying on the market longer than in months past, you’ll be happy to hear that staged homes sell faster than homes that aren’t staged, according to the president of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, (IAHSP), Barb Scwartz.

Her research finds that homes staged by an IAHSP member sell 20% quicker than homes that aren’t staged.

Remember, homebuyers are willing to pay more for homes they perceive as move-in ready.

That first impression of your home can make the difference in whether potential buyers decide to look beyond what they see at the front door and even how much they are willing to pay for the home.

 

 

Depending upon where you live in the U.S., home security may be your biggest concern when buying a house. Urban homes with security features are hot sellers and insurance on these homes is typically discounted.

There are many home security systems available, including alarm systems and cameras that make houses less attractive to crooks and more attractive to buyers.

First, look for basic home security features when house hunting

High-tech home security systems are only one aspect of home safety. Basic home security includes some common-sense strategies that make your home a tougher target for criminals. Consider these home security tips when viewing homes:

• All exterior doors should have deadbolts, including the door leading to an attached garage. Security professionals recommend that the deadbolt you purchase meets the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) grade 1 testing standards.
• Doors to the exterior of the home and the garage should be 1 ¾ inches thick.
• Doors should be attached to frames with hinge screws that are at least two and a half to three inches long.
• Doorways should be well-lit.
• Exterior doors should be solid wood or reinforced with steel.
• If window security bars are used, they should be easily removable in case of fire.
• The front door should be visible from the street.
• Hedges should be trimmed to below the windowsills.
• Check all the window locks to ensure that they work properly.

Home security systems

A few years ago, researchers at Rutgers University pored over five years of statistics and found that a burglar alarm in the home will decrease the residents’ chances of break-ins.

Home security systems come in many forms and at most price points. The most complicated systems alert security companies when security alarms go off or when suspicious activity is detected on security cameras.

Other systems sound local alarms when a door or window is breached, alerting residents and neighbors.

Some home security systems are smartphone-integrated and will text or phone homeowners when alarms are triggered or security cameras detect motion.

If a home security system isn’t in your budget, consider a dummy system. Some include decoy cameras that resemble real ones. Another recommended deterrent is a motion-activated security light, or several placed strategically around your property.

Get a security check-up on that home you have your eye on

Police officers can offer a wealth of information and advice when it comes to your safety and home security. Contact the local police department for information on how many calls they answer in the neighborhood during a typical month. Find out about the typical response time in the neighborhood for both police and fire fighters.

Check the National Sex Offender Registry database to find out if there is a sexual predator living nearby.

Security consultants and police officers suggest that the aim of home security isn’t to necessarily burglar-proof your home, but to make it appear less attractive to burglars than other homes on the street and to slow down an intruder that is determined to gain entry.

Some police departments will assess the security of a home as a public service. These security checks go over the basics of home security and provide you with the tools you need to get started on creating your own home security system.

If you prefer a DIY home security evaluation, check out this home safety checklist at Safewise.com.

The open house has been a part of home selling for more than 100 years, according to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

Fast forward to today and, although still a tool that many real estate agents use, the open house has decreased in popularity. We can thank the internet for that. With online access to video tours, virtual tours and 3-D floor plans, many homebuyers decide which homes to view online, not by driving around and visiting open houses on weekends.

According to Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends, the NAR’s annual survey, when asked about the first step taken during the home buying process, only 2% of respondents visited an open house.

While more than half of homebuyers found the home they eventually purchased online, only 4% purchased a home they found with a “yard/open house” sign.

With a changing market, however, an open house just might be what helps sell your home. Let’s take a look at ways to ready the home for the big day.

Let folks know

Yes, your real estate agent will get the word out about your open house, but who better to spread the word among the neighbors than you? Ensure you visit them and extend an invitation to the open house.

Ask if they know anyone who might like to live in the neighborhood and urge them to bring those folks along on open house day.

Don’t forget people you work with. Ask your real estate agent for a handful of fliers and pass them out at work.

The four-legged family members

The best thing to do with pets during the open house is to find someplace for them to go. If you can’t take them with you when you leave for the day, can you keep them at a family member or friend’s home? If not, how about a day at the groomers or doggy daycare?

Remove all evidence of the furry friends, such as crates, bowls and toys and attend to any pet-related repairs.

Secure what needs securing

We’ve found that most open house attendees are honest folks. But, there is the occasional exception. For this reason, it’s important to secure certain items in the home, such as weapons, prescription drugs and valuables.

Taking these items off-premise is the best way to assure that they’re secure.

Don’t leave any financial information, such as bank statements, investment information, blank checks, credit or other bank cards in plain view or in drawers, unless the drawer can be locked.

Do it yourself or hire someone, but get it done

Clean your house. Keeping a clean house is probably the most tedious task of selling a home, but cleaning it for the open house is critical.

We aren’t talking tidying up here, but cleaning deeply, until the house is immaculate. Professional house cleaners often suggest that you come up with a system and one that we like starts at the front door. From there, you work your way around the home from left to right or right to left, whichever you choose.

As you move through the home, start each new area by cleaning from top to bottom, from the ceiling to the floor. This way you don’t miss any spots that are commonly missed such as that area where the ceiling meets the wall, the baseboards and the light fixtures.

Then, turn your attention to the garage. A two-car garage is in demand with homebuyers but that same garage offering obvious storage options is something folks clamor after.

Clean and declutter the space and then highlight any storage options it offers.

The open house is your home’s chance to grab local homebuyers’ attention. Ensure that it puts its best ‘foot’ forward for a quick sale.

Yes, Mom, money does sometimes grow on trees. The experts at the Appraisal Institute say that anything you do to better the appearance of the outside of the home will increase its value. In fact, updating the home’s landscaping alone may increase the value up to 11% according to a Michigan State University study.

This is, most likely, a direct result of another study’s findings (National Association of Landscape Professionals). This survey found that 84% of Americans feel that how a particular home is landscaped would impact their decision to buy it.

So, what do these professionals consider “good” landscaping?

Good landscaping is ‘sophisticated’

While the sophistication of a landscape design is something that is hard to put into words for most consumers, like art, they know it when they see it.

The study defines a sophisticated landscape as one that includes a balance of large deciduous trees, evergreen plants, annual color plants and colored hardscape. The latter includes all non-plant features, such as decorative brick, pavers and gravel.

The study found that a home with only a lawn in the landscape, valued at $150,000, can gain $8,250 to $19,050 more in value with an upgraded, sophisticated landscape.

By the way, The Michigan State University study’s respondents ranked a landscape’s sophistication as most important when considering the perceived value of a home.

Size does matter

For homes located in a region of the country where trees take significantly longer to grow tall, a large tree may add more to the home’s value than smaller trees. “A mature tree can often have an appraised value of between $1,000 and $10,000,” according to experts at the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers.

Other studies, such as one conducted by the Arbor Day Foundation, claim that any trees on the property may add up to 15 percent additional value to a home.

As an added bonus, a young healthy tree offers the cooling equivalent of 10 room-size air conditioners running 20 hours a day, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Mix it up a bit

Achieving diversity isn’t a worthy goal only for the human race, but for your home’s landscaping as well.

For the most bang from your landscaping buck, consider following the Michigan State University study findings by planting annual color plants and adding colored hardscape to the yard.

Annual plants are those that complete their lives in one season. They can be planted anywhere, but look especially striking in beds, borders and containers. Typically planted in the spring and summer, some annuals to consider include vinca (Vinca spp.), zinnia (Zinnia spp.) and sweet pea (Lathyrus odoratus).

Plant shorter annuals toward the front of the beds and taller, or climbers, toward the middle and rear.

Whatever you do, don’t go minimalist

Minimalist landscape schemes that contain only small plants actually detract from a home’s value, according to the Michigan study. If you’re on a tight budget and can’t afford an entire landscape makeover, consider adding at least one of the more important aspects of a sophisticated landscape design.

Since plant size is second in value to sophisticated design, consider adding at least one tall tree and sprinkling the landscape with splashes of annual color. The Arbor Day Foundation offers a handy calculator on its website that allows users to choose a type and size of tree to determine how much value it will add to the home.

When you’re getting ready to move, it’s common to want to lighten the load. Unfortunately, most of your excess belongings, whether they’re waiting to be sold, given away, donated or stored, end up in the garage – with all the other stuff you’ve stuck out there over the years.

It’s like a giant junk drawer and, while your home is on the market, it will be visible to anyone who views the home. It’s unfortunate that with all of the advice out there about staging a home for sale, few of the experts recommend staging the garage.

A few years ago the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) published a study of homebuyers and what they’re seeking in their new home. More than half of them said they want a garage and 86 percent said that a garage with storage is either desirable or essential.

If you’re ready to tackle the cleanup of that giant junk drawer we have a couple of tips for you.

1. Pull it all out

That’s right, pull everything out of the garage and onto the driveway. This leaves you with a completely blank slate with which to work your magic.

Now you’ll need to clean the garage – which isn’t at all like cleaning a house. The tools and products you’ll need depends on how the garage was used. If it was used as storage your job will be easy. If, on the other hand, you did wood working or auto repair projects in the garage, you have your work cut out for you.

The best way to start is with a thorough sweeping of the walls and the floor, then a power washing. You may need to finish up by using a scraper to get at the paint splatters and other substances that remain after washing.

If it’s oil or grease that remains, you’ll need a concrete degreaser and a deck brush to scrub the area clean.

2. Splash some paint around

When the floor dries, it’s time to get some paint on the walls and finish the floor. Semi-gloss finish paint is ideal for the walls and epoxy floor coating will make the garage floor look pristine. The guys at This Old House claim that coating the floor is an easy DIY job and show you how on their website.

2. Lug it back in

While everything dries, sit down and figure out how you’ll organize the items you’ll be bringing back into the garage. Whether that involves building or buying shelves, plastic bins, pegboard on which to hang things or a combination of all three, plan it out on paper.

Get tips and ideas at HGTV.com, Pinterest.com and RealSimple.com.

Then, bring in only the items that you’ll truly need before you move. Organize everything according to your plan and take the rest to storage or give away, sell or donate them.

Every neighborhood has that one guy whose garage is so clean it seems like you can eat off the floor. That guy (or gal!) should be you by the time you’re finished.

Congratulations! You now have the sexiest garage in your neighborhood.

The process of buying and selling homes is somewhat mysterious to many Americans – especially first-timers.

To make matters worse, friends and family, as soon as they learn you’ll be involved in the process, tend to offer their advice. This is how myths are formed – by people making assumptions about how something works.

Let’s see if we can debunk some of the most common home selling myths that real estate agents face every day.

Myth: The seller determines the home’s value

Fact: Buyers determine the value of a home and their opinions are reflected in the prices of sold homes in the area.

The International Society of Appraisers quotes the Department of the Treasury’s fair market value definition as “the price at which the property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or sell, and both having reasonable knowledge of relevant facts.”

Buyers base their willingness to buy on several factors, including the size and condition of the home, its location, current market conditions and the sales prices of comparable homes.

The list prices of area homes merely reflect what the sellers are hoping to get. Don’t assume that the $375,000 list price of the house next door represents market value in the neighborhood.

Recent sale prices are indicative of what buyers are willing to pay and, thus, market value.

Myth: To leave room for negotiation, it’s smart to price the home high in the beginning.

Fact:  Overpriced homes take longer to sell and typically sell under market value.

There are several reasons why this happens. First, by overpricing the home you are excluding your real buying pool. Buyers who can afford to pay what your home is truly worth won’t bother looking at it, because it’s not priced in their range.

The house will attract buyers that can afford to pay more for a home and yours simply won’t stack up to the others in the price range. By alienating both pools of buyers you are wasting those valuable first two weeks of marketing when your home is a new listing.

Overpricing the home is only a safe strategy in a seller’s market, when there are few homes available and lots of buyers in the market. In a buyer’s market, however, your overpriced home will languish on the market.

Myth: There’s no need to make repairs if you are giving the buyer a repair credit.

Fact: Today’s homebuyers want a home that is in move-in condition.

Can you blame them? Few homebuyers want to move into a house knowing that they will be inconvenienced by ongoing repair work. Which is why the majority say they want a home in move-in condition.

To sell the home quickly and for top dollar, make major repairs before you put the home on the market. Not only will the home then be considered move-in ready, your agent can mention the repairs in the home’s marketing materials.

Myth: Home improvements pay for themselves when you sell.

Fact: Few home improvement projects return 100 percent of your investment, according to Remodeling magazine’s annual Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report.

If the home is a fixer, and you do major renovations, you will get a higher price for it than you would if you didn’t do the work. It is doubtful, however, that you’ll make all your money back.

Replacing the garage door is the closest you’ll get to recouping all the money spent – a 93.3% percent return on investment.

Make improvements to the home based on how they will increase your comfort and your enjoyment of the home.

Myth: Choose the real estate agent that recommends the highest list price.

Fact: An agent that recommends a price substantially higher than what other agents recommend may be trying to “buy” your business.

It’s an old trick and, while not many agents engage in the practice, some do. You’ve already learned about the dangers of overpricing your home and this scheme takes it one step beyond. After 30 days or so, the agent will come to you and ask for a price reduction.

By this time, the home has lost valuable marketing time and now, with a price drop, it may become stigmatized. Buyers will wonder what is wrong with the home that has caused it to sit on the market. The price drop invites bargain shoppers, hoping to cash in on your perceived desperation.

Choosing a listing agent is one of the most important steps in the home selling process. Choose your agent based on experience and credentials, not on lofty promises.

 

It’s no mystery that, at any given time, the current economy impacts home values, but that’s not the only predictor of a home’s worth. Foreclosures in the area, local planning department aims and even the habits of your neighbors can determine the worth of your home.

Then, there are schools. Did you know that the quality of the local school district has a direct impact on your home’s value?

Whether or not you have children, the schools in your area will determine the asking price of your home. How? Read on.

Resale value is an important consideration when buying a home

The current market value of a home is based on what a willing buyer will pay for it. Imagine all the “willing” buyers out there with children. These buyers do their homework and decide to buy homes in a “quality” school district. Can you blame them?

When enough of these parents pay a premium price to live in a good school district in your community, expect the prices to rise in those areas and to remain stagnant or even fall in others. If your home is among the “others,” you didn’t do your homework before buying.

Hey, that’s understandable. Most Americans don’t consider their home to be the major financial investment that it is. Understandable, yes. Wise? No.

When you put together the wish list of what you want in a home, please include the words “resale value.”

Need proof?

Numerous studies show that a good school district positively impacts value. One 2009 study, conducted by Ken Corsini at Georgia Institute of Technology, found that homes near schools with schooldigger.com ratings of four or five stars held their value better during the Great Recession than those near schools with fewer stars.

David Figlio, professor of education, social policy and economics at Northwestern University, noticed that in Florida, homes located near schools awarded an “A” rating by the state gain an additional $50,000 in value versus those near schools with a “B” rating.

This premium gap is notable in the award-winning Bellevue school district in Washington state as well. There, homes are valued 15 percent higher than those in other districts.

Buyers agree

“Fifty-three percent of buyers with children in the home under the age of 18 years said the quality of the school districts is an important factor when purchasing a home,” according to studies by the National Association of REALTORS®.

An earlier study showed that nearly one-fourth of buyers were willing to pay 1 to 5 percent above their home purchasing budget for a home in a highly rated school district.

What makes a “good” school district?

One of the most common determinants of school quality is test scores. For instance, the website GreatSchools.org bases its ratings primarily on test scores.

Although castigated by some, U.S. News and World Report’s annual high school rankings are based on three criteria:

• Scores on state-mandated tests
• How effectively the school educates minority and disadvantaged students
• Participation in and performance on the International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement exams.

Additionally, an older study sponsored by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation suggests that “mean test scores are significantly related to property values.”

How much more is a good school district worth?

Determining a dollar value for homes located in high-performing school districts seems to be the only area the experts disagree on. Some researchers support study claims that homes in school districts with high test scores are worth $16,000 more than similar homes in poor-performing districts.

A Brookings Institution report indicates that, on average, homes in high-scoring school districts are worth $205,000 or more than those in low-scoring districts.

Figlio says that homes in top districts net a 23 percent premium over homes in other districts. The positive news is that no matter the fortune of the housing market – whether it’s rising or falling – the premium remains consistent.

Although the size and price of a home are always key considerations, when considering the home’s future value, the quality of the school district may sometimes trump all else.

Planning a wedding is one thing. Add a home purchase to that chaos and you have a recipe for a whole bunch of stress.

If you’ve decided that you can handle both projects and have your heart set on carrying your bride — or being carried by your groom — over the threshold of your own home, you’re not alone.

One in four couples between the ages of 18 to 34 searched for and bought a home before they tied the knot.

Before you and the fiance hop in the car and start checking out homes, read on for a few tips.

Consider your financial situation as individuals, not a couple

One of the first decisions you will need to make about the home purchase is about who will be applying for the mortgage – both of you together or just one of you. The decision should be based on your financial situation/credit. Make separate lists containing the following information:

• Your credit score
• Your annual income
• Your total debt

If your credit scores are significantly different, you may want to allow the high scoring partner to apply for the mortgage. A higher score means a lower interest rate and, thus, lower house payments.

If you decide to include the lower scoring partner on the mortgage, be aware that the low score will most likely dictate the interest rate you get.

If the high scoring half of the couple has a significantly lower income, however, you’ll need to make a decision on what is more important: a lower interest rate or a higher loan amount.

Learn about the different ways of holding title

Joe and Sarah are engaged and plan on buying a house together before the wedding. Sarah has been employed in a management position with a large firm for six years and holds a 720-credit score.

Joe, on the other hand, lived the high life during his bachelor days, moved around a lot and frequently found himself dodging bill collectors. Although he’s settled down and has held the same job for over a year, his credit score is 560.

The couple, with the help of their lender, decides to have Sarah apply for the mortgage. Not only are their chances of approval higher, but the interest rate will be lower than it would be with Joe applying as a co-borrower.

Joe is disappointed as he’d hoped for this to be a joint venture.

This is where the manner of holding title comes into play

Just because Sarah is on record as the responsible party for the mortgage payments, she can add Joe’s name to the deed after the deal closes. First, though, they need to make a decision on how they wish to hold title.

Two of the most common ways of holding title are joint tenants and tenants in common. Joint tenants own equal shares of the home. When one of the tenants dies the other automatically takes control of the deceased’s share, regardless of anything else stipulated in a will.

Known as the “right of survivorship,” this method of holding title avoids the probate process. If one partner in the joint tenancy wants to sell his share of the property, the joint tenancy ends and the new owner becomes a tenant in common, with no rights of survivorship.

Joint tenancy has certain tax consequences for the survivor so work with an attorney and your financial planner before deciding on this method of holding title.

“Tenants in common” is the most common way for unmarried partners to hold title. Under this method there is no right to inherit the other’s share upon death. Instead, the ownership transfers to those named in the will or living trust.

Unlike joint tenants, tenants in common can own unequal shares of the property. For instance, Sarah can own 60 percent and Joe can own 40 percent.

Again, there are legal ramifications of holding title as tenants in common so consult with your attorney before making a decision.

Adding a name to the title is typically be accomplished with a quitclaim deed.

Possible problems

No couple – especially those in the throes of wedding planning – wants to consider that they may not make it to the altar.  Broken engagements do happen, though, and it’s important to protect yourselves.

Meet with an attorney and discuss the possible legal pitfalls of a breakup before you get married, including the division of the property and equity. A written agreement as to what will happen in the event you don’t exchange vows will protect both of you.

Once the home purchase and legal issues are out of the way you can concentrate on those chiming wedding bells and the promise of marital bliss.

We probably don’t need to tell you that the housing market is in flux. Current news headlines are screaming that the 6% slide in home sales in July signals a slide into a “housing market recession.”

Although we are far more optimistic about the market, we can’t deny that it is changing, and that selling a home during a market in flux can pose difficulties.

If that home is a condo, the rules change. Selling a condo is a bit different than selling a single-family home.

“The good news is that condos tend to sell faster than single-family homes even in a down market, because condos are typically smaller, cost less, and have lower maintenance costs,” according to Lisa Johnson Mandell at realtor.com.

The trick is to make your condo stand out from all the others on the market. Whether the unique feature is location, condition or amenities, it’s important to market the property to appeal to what buyers are looking for.

An experienced, knowledgeable listing agent can help you, but if you know what to expect, it may free you to be more motivated to get that condo sold.

Step 1: Price the condo competitively

The list price of your condo can make or break a successful sale. Buyers’ agents know what local property values are and they won’t bother showing their clients yours if it’s overpriced.

An overpriced property also invites counter offers which, if you’re in a hurry to sell, can significantly slow down the process.

Your real estate agent will offer his or her opinion of price, but, ultimately, it’s up to you to say yay or nay.

If you’re tempted to start high in the hopes of coming down in price later, keep in mind that over-priced properties tend to remain on the market longer and may eventually end up selling for less than market value.

Step 2: Get your condo move-in ready

Perception is so important in the home selling process that according to a study by Maritz Research, 63 percent of homebuyers surveyed said they are willing to pay more for a home that they feel is in turnkey condition.

By “turnkey” they may mean “… that it has been fully and newly renovated,” according to Liz Smith at smartasset.com.

But, not always. If the home is impeccably clean, tastefully presented and gives the impression that they won’t have to do much to it when they move in, it may be perceived as move-in ready.

Replace ratty carpets, update lighting and add fresh paint to make the condo more appealing.

If you have room in your budget for a professional home stager, consider hiring one.

Not only do these pros understand the latest decorating trends but they also understand who your target buyer is and can create a specific impression to attract that buyer.

Best of all, as little as $300 to $400 spent on staging returns a 586% return on your investment, according to the Home Sale Maximizer Guide.

Step 3: Out-compete your competition

This step is for informational purposes because the tasks outlined are ours. This is one reason why your choice of listing agent is so important.

Condo shoppers may get the impression that all complexes are alike. Although many do look similar, amenities vary.

If your complex boasts a pool, so do many others. But, in our marketing materials, we’ll turn that pool into an oasis of sparkling blue, clean and heated luxury.

We’ll do the same for the other amenities in your complex to make the descriptions irresistible.

Step 4: Be proactive

While none of us has a crystal ball, it pays to think of what might happen in the future. If the market should take a sudden turn in favor of buyers, you will be kicked out of the driver’s seat.

Decide now if you will offer incentives to the buyer should that scenario come to pass.

This might include paying closing costs, including some of the furniture that the buyer has her eye on or a home warranty. We once read about a home seller who included their dog in the purchase because the buyers fell in love with it!

Hopefully, it won’t come to that but at least you are aware of the possibility. We can do this.

Let’s get started.