6 Reasons You Need a REALTOR-#1

A real estate transaction is complicated. In most cases, buying or selling a home requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page government-mandated settlement statements. A knowledgeable guide through this complexity can help you avoid delays or costly mistakes.

5 Ways to Speed Up the Sale of Your Home-#5

Don't refuse to drop the price. If your home has been on the market for more than 30 days without an offer, be prepared to lower your asking price.

5 Ways to Speed Up the Sale of Your Home-#4

Be ready for the offers. Decide in advance what price and terms you'll find acceptable.

5 Ways to Speed Up the Sale of Your Home-#3

Be flexible about showings. It's often disruptive to have a house ready to show on the spur of the moment, but the more often someone can see your home, the sooner you'll find a seller.

5 Ways to Speed Up the Sale of Your Home-#2

Get your house market-ready for at least two weeks before you begin showing it.

5 Ways to Speed Up the Sale of Your Home-#1

Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property's realistic price range.

Now is the BEST time to buy or sell a home!

Why? At this point the real estate market has reached
a milestone - like never before.

==> Interest rates cannot drop much more, so it is very
possible rates will begin to rise in the not too
distant future.

==> Prices of both new homes and resales may be affected
by inflation.

In other words, conditions cannot get much better than
they are RIGHT NOW! Therefore, it is an ideal time for
sellers to sell and buyers to buy.

Since every home seller is also a buyer of another home,
the time is excellent for homeowners to make their move
NOW.

Very seldom do you have a real estate market that is
good for both buyers and sellers like you have right now.
Don't expect to see much in the way of changes for the
next few months, July and August. But this doesn't mean
that these excellent market conditions will last forever.

So, if you are thinking about making a move, take
advantage of this opportunity.

If you currently have a home to sell, this is the perfect
time to spruce up the house so you get the highest
possible price - ever. And have buyers who can qualify
to buy your property.

It's and ideal time for real estate. An ideal time to
both buy and sell.

5 Tips When Showing Your Home-#5

Leave. It's awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you there.

5 Tips When Showing Your Home-#4

De-clutter. Put away any items not immediately usable i.e. clothes, toys, dishes, etc. Clear all pathways so that a comfortable and efficient movement through your home is created.

5 Tips When Showing Your Home-#3

Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside. If that's not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (a basement or bath), and let the salesperson know where to find them.

5 Tips When Showing Your Home-#2

Turn on all the lights. Even in the daytime, incandescent lights add sparkle. Open all window coverings.

5 Tips When Showing Your Home-#1

Lock up your valuables, jewelry, and money. Although the real estate salesperson will be on site during the showing, it's impossible to watch everyone all the time.

Does Moving Up Make Sense?

Answer these questions to help you decide whether moving up makes sense.

How much equity do you have in your home? Look at your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out. Usually, you don't build up much equity in the first few years of paying a mortgage, but if you've owned your home for a number of years, you may have significant unrealized gains.

Has your income increased enough to cover the extra mortgage costs and the costs of moving?

Does your neighborhood still meet your needs? For example, if you've had children, the quality of the schools may be more of a concern now than when you first purchased.

Can you add on or remodel? If you have a large yard, there might be room to expand your home. If not, your options may be limited. Also, do you want to undertake the headaches of remodeling?

How is the home market? If it's good, you may get top dollar for your home.

How are interest rates? A low rate not only helps you buy more home, but also makes it easier to find a buyer.

Here are the top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#10

Avoid feedback. What do buyers know anyway? Imagine the fact they don't appreciate my barbed wire fence, heavy duty rebar, backyard bomb shelter, airport runway views, lights from the power plant, hum from the high voltage lines, railroad tremors, scorpion skeletons, termite mud tubes and pet snakes. Missed #1 through #9? Go to KetteringRealEstate@BlogSpot.com to catch up. Thinking of moving up? Check out my next Blog "Does Moving Up Make Sense?"

Top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#9

What's that smell? My house doesn't smell of pet odors, baby diapers, curry powder, garlic, fried fish, coconut incense, cigars, manure, mulch, dairy farms or low tide. The buyer must be confusing my castle with a track home.

Top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#8

Sell personal items. Wow, maybe the buyers want to buy the patio furniture, rotary lawnmower or life size statue of Saint Anthony. You only have four more boxes of Girl Scout cookies to sell. Why not ask for a donation for the March of Dimes, the Humane Society or the local PBS station. Remember the saying, "loose lips sink ships?"

Top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#7

Talk to the buyers. Life gets lonely at times. Why not ask the buyers where they grew up? Or how much they qualify for. Tell them about the vacant rental next door. Or, the sex offender who left the area. Maybe they could baby-sit next weekend! Why not share war stories, horror movies or meatloaf recipes?

Top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#6

Let Fido run loose. Recently, I entered a house and two frisky, friendly black Labs ran to sniff me. Unfortunately, I had light gray dress slacks on that day. Both wet stains lasted for hours. Until that day I didn't realize dogs enjoyed chewing the tassels on expensive loafers.

Top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#5

Don't stage the property. Someday shag multi-colored, sculptured carpeting will come back. Whitewashed cabinets, Navajo white walls, linoleum flooring, southwest décor, lots of personal photos and Elvis paintings on black velvet should be removed. And, oh by the way loose the long sideburns.

Top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#4

Micromanage the marketing. Just because you sold cookware in college, carts in California, or carpeting in Cranston does not qualify you to second-guess your agent. If you had a real estate license years ago, tell your children about the "good old days." Share your concerns and timelines, but leave the details to the listing pro.

Top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#3

Not listening to your agent. Attorneys believe if you represent yourself, you have a fool for a client. Doctors don't self-diagnose. Professionals use professionals. Even though most people believe they are experts on raising kids and real estate; full-time, career pros usually know what's best. Listen very carefully.

Top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#2

Improper pricing. A home properly priced is half sold. No amount of full color ads, glossy flyers, multiple photos, virtual tours, agent luncheons, Goodyear blimps, pom-pom girls or Saint Joseph statues will compensate for the wrong, timid retail price.

Top ten ways any seller can practically guarantee their home will expire-#1

Not serious about selling. A sage once quipped, "Money is only important when you don't want something enough." Real estate expert R.L. Brown said that if half of the 58,000 sellers in Maricopa County (Arizona) removed their for sale signs we would be at normal inventory levels. Actions speak louder than words in this market. Discretionary sellers should wait for a less competitive environment.

5 Things to Do Before You Sell-#5

Fill out a disclosure form provided by your sales associate. Take the time to be sure that you don't forget problems, however minor, that might create liability for you after the sale. Like to see all five as well as other tips and tricks? Go to ketteringrealestate@blogspot.com

5 Things to Do Before You Sell-#4

Gather together warranties and guarantees on the furnace, appliances, and other items that will remain with the house.

5 Things to Do Before You Sell-#3

Get a pre-sale home inspection so you'll be able to make repairs before buyers become concerned and cancel a contract.

Like more tips? Visit www.ketteringrealestate.blogspot.com

5 Things to Do Before You Sell-#2

Have a termite inspection to prove to buyers that the property is not infested.

5 Things to Do Before You Sell-#1

Get estimates from a reliable repairperson on items that need to be replaced soon, such as a roof or worn carpeting, for example. In this way, buyers will have a better sense of how much these needed repairs will affect their costs.