Staging for Success!

 I talked about pricing recently and although it is so critical to be priced right when you are trying to sell your property it goes hand in hand with staging! Most of us have watched some of the many shows about staging on HGTV or DIY. To be honest I am somewhat addicted to home improvement and staging shows! To keep it simple staging is really about putting your best foot forward as they say! First impressions are lasting impressions and you only have a few seconds to grab a buyer's attention so don't just stage the inside of your house. Evaluate the outside! The list below offers you a few staging tips to help you make a great first impression!

• Pay attention to your landscaping. Is it attractive or boring? You need some pops of color not just plain shrubbery. Add a decorative flag. Put some nice pots on the front porch with a variety of plants. You can pick up "color bowls" at your garden center if you need some help in this department.
• Freshen up the mulch or pine needles in your beds. Make sure your beds are weed free!
• If you have large trees in your front yard trim the lower branches so prospective buyers can actually see the front of your home rather than just see the trees.
• Add a nice welcome mat at your front door.
• Wash your windows inside and out. Make them shine and let the light in!
• Sweep and pressure wash the entrance to your house.
• Once inside deal with the clutter and excess or too large furniture. You may want to consider storing some of your treasures until after your house sells.
• Depersonalize -- buyer's need to be able to picture themselves living there!
• Inspect your house and repair those minor issues that you have adapted to "living with". We all have them, however buyers don't want to start off in their new home with those issues!
• Do a "sniff test". Remember smells don't sell. Strong food odors, cigarette smoke, and pet odors are big negatives to prospective buyers.
• Clean your ceiling fans and light fixtures.
• Make sure all vents are clean, especially the air return and filter! When buyers see issues like dirty filters they feel your house is not very well maintained.

Obviously this is not a complete list but when you take this information to heart it will definitely help you to make a great first impression. With all the competition out there it is critical to stage for success!

Price to Sell, Not Sit!

In today's real estate market correct pricing is more critical than it has ever been! There is so much competition out there! Homes that are not priced correctly are languishing on the market causing homeowners to be frustrated and stressed out over the lack of showings and lack of offers.
You may find the checklist below helpful when trying to determine the right list price for your home.

• Review comparable sales with your agent. Use that information to help determine the correct price NOT how much you think you have to have from the sale of your home. Sometimes that number can be a hard pill to swallow. If you want your home to sell you have to face reality!

• Look at your home with the "eyes of a buyer".  Be honest with yourself regarding the condition of your property. Anything less than excellent condition means you cannot expect to get top dollar unless you plan to put money into your home to prepare it for sale.
• Want a faster sale? Then expect to price your home below full market value. Positioning your home anywhere from 10% - 30% below market value will help to generate a faster sale.
• Location! Location! Location!  This weighs heavily into pricing. If the area around you has declined over the years and neighboring properties appear to be poorly maintained then you cannot expect to sell quickly or for top dollar. You can change the price and condition but you are stuck with your location so make sure you price your home accordingly.

In closing, trust your real estate professional to provide you with the appropriate guidance when putting your home on the market. They have access to information regarding your competition, what other homes in your neighborhood or area have sold for, and how long it is taking homes to sell. Your agent also has the education, skills,and experience necessary to help you make an informed decision regarding price. Trust your agent when they tell you that when you are overpriced buyers will not look at your home let alone make offers. Price your home to sell, not sit!

Don't Sit on the Fence! Own it!

The dream of homeownership is still very much alive and with rates still at historic lows it is definitely time for buyers to buy rather than "sit on the fence"!

**Homes are More Affordable - Current housing prices in many markets are down 27% on average across the nation from peak values 5 years ago and the Spartanburg/Greenville market is still one of the more affordable places to buy!

** Rates are Low - 30 year fixed rates continue to be lower than they have been in years!

** Homeownership is still the American Dream - Nearly 9 in 10 Americans say home ownership is an important part of the American Dream!

**Financing is available - With low downpayment options as long as you have a stable work history and sufficient income, good credit, and reasonable debt ratios you may qualify for the home of your dreams!

Now is the time to buy your dream home and quit "sitting on the fence"! With rates this low your buying power may enable you to buy in a higher price range than in the past. Call now and find out how to get started on the path to home ownership - still the American Dream!

Spartanburg Real Estate: Buyers! Don't Put the Cart Before the Horse!

Spartanburg Real Estate: Buyers: Don't Put the Cart Before the Horse!

Beautiful Home for Sale 
In Boiling Springs



Great Starter Home for Sale
in Spartanburg



Home for Sale In Spartanburg 
In  Convenient Location

Spartanburg Home for Sale
In Historic Beaumont

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have been in real estate here in the Spartanburg SC area for over 12 years now and it never ceases to amaze me when buyers do not want to get preapproved! They want to go look at homes for sale and WHEN they find the right one then they will get preapproved! Now, I suppose that makes perfect sense to them, however it is "putting the cart before the horse" as that old expression goes! Buyers, if you are reading this and recognize yourselves, please keep reading as I share why this does not make sense.

• Have you looked at your credit report lately? There could be something there that needs to be cleared up before you can buy that home for sale you have fallen in love with!
• How much debt do you have? You may need to look at a different price home than you think you need to be looking at! Your debt ratios may prevent you from going as high you might like!
• Is your employment situation really permanent? Quite often you cannot get approved for a mortgage if you are a temp or a contract worker.
• Did you recently buy a new vehicle with a big new car payment to match? Could affect those debt ratios!
• Did you change jobs recently and now you work in a totally different field? You might need to wait a little longer!
• Past foreclosure, short sale, or bankruptcy? Usually need at least 3 years of really good credit history before you can buy again.
• Have you applied for alot of credit recently? Lots of inquiries can affect your scores!
• Any recent late payments? Many loans require a 12 month history of no late payments.

Buying a home is NOT like buying a car! Make sure you get preapproved before going out to look at homes in Spartanburg and make sure you find qualified professionals to help you every step of the way. The home buying process can be lots of fun, but also can be stressful with lots of possible landmines along the way when you go it alone!

So, remember, don't put the cart before the horse!
Please feel free to contact me for help and visit my website at http://www.sellingupstatesc.net/.

Happy House Hunting for that perfect home!!

 

 

 



Linda Rademacher
864-909-2500



 

 

 

 

 

Each Office is Independently Owned & Operated

Spartanburg Spring Fling 

May 6, 7, 8  2011

Downtown Spartanburg

It’s that time  again!  Time for Spartanburg’s most popular street festival! Spring Fling.  This popular Spartanburg Downtown Festival has been  drawing crowds for over 30 years and has something to offer every member of your family.  From Arts and Crafts Vendors to live entertainment by Local and National Musicians this festival showcases the best of Spartanburg! When it comes to music whether you are a little bit country, a rock ‘n roller, into pop rock, blues, gospel, alternative rock, R&B, or jazz you will find a band for you!  One of the concerts on Sunday will be the 2009 “American Idol” winner Kris Allen.

Many other activities and types of entertainment will be offered such as the Disc Connected K-9s ( a professional dog and Frisbee show), a classic car show,

and a professional bicycle race -  The Spartanburg Regional Classic that features top cyclists from all over the world.  The races are presented by Partners for Active Living. and have become popular events.

Another new addition to Spartanburg Spring Fling is The Underground which will feature  inter-active gaming and a texting competition.

On Sunday  (Mother’s Day)  there will be a Mother  Daughter Look-A-Like Contest and a Scavenger Hunt with $1000. worth of prizes for someone’s lucky mother!

And of course there will plenty of  food  and drink vendors so you can indulge in typical festival food or more gourmet menu items.

General Admission is free and there is ample parking in Downtown Spartanburg. Festival hours are 6 pm—10 pm on Friday, 11 am– 9 pm on Saturday, and 1 pm -  7 pm on Sunday.

So come on out and enjoy the 33rd Annual Spring Fling in Downtown Spartanburg!

Spartanburg Real Estate: Parade of Homes!

Spring Parade of Homes is coming soon! Homes all around Spartanburg will be open on Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1 from 2 pm - 5 pm each afternoon.

Whether you are looking for your dream home, gathering decorating ideas, trying to find the right agent to market your home, or just want to see what the inside of some homes look like there will be lots of homes open!

I will be featuring Beaumont Mill Village which is now a Local Historic District on the Parade of Homes and will have 5 homes open!

408 Gentry St
442 Gentry St
443 Gentry St
115 Phifer Dr
693 Maywood St

Please stop by to visit these homes and find out more about Spartanburg's rich history that is tied to the textile industry. There will be members of the Beaumont Neighborhood Association on hand to share with you just how much this neighborhood means to them!

For more information please contact me at Linda.Rademacher@century21.com or 864-909-2500.

And visit my website at http://www.sellingupstatesc.net/

Spartanburg Real Estate: So Do You Really Want To Buy A Short Sale?

In today's world of real estate there are many opportunities for good deals. Foreclosures, motivated sellers, and short sales are examples of some of those opportunities. For those of you who may not have heard the term "short sale", a simple explanation is that a homeowner is trying to sell their home for less than what they owe their lender and are asking them to accept that lesser amount and also cover the expenses associated with the sale. On the surface that may sound as if it should be really simple, however it is much more involved than you the buyer may realize. I have handled numerous short sales in the Spartanburg area, many before most agents even knew what a short sale was. Over the 12+ years that I have helped people to buy and sell homes I have managed to handle some short sales successfully, some unsuccessfully and have found them to be difficult, challenging, frustrating, and rewarding! Rewarding because homeowners who desperately want to sell their home as a short sale rather than go through a foreclosure are extremely appreciative of their agent helping them through such a stressful time in their lives. It is critical that short sale agents be compassionate, empathetic, and sympathetic, as well as being a good listener! Unfortunately, bad things happen to good people and any of us could end up on the verge of losing our homes!

As a buyer there are things that you need to understand about short sales.

• Rule # 1 -- Patience, patience, patience! Do not expect daily or even weekly updates! Your agent cannot make loss mitigators or negotiators communicate with them. Quite often the attitude is "when we have anything to tell you you will hear something. When you don't hear anything then we have no news!" This is not your agent's attitude so please understand when there is no news it is not for lack of concern or effort on your agent's part.

• Understand if you need to be in a house in 30 or 60 or even 90 days then attempting to buy a short sale may not be for you! Short sales can take months sometimes! When you start to get impatient remember Rule # 1!!

• The process is so much more involved than you and possibly even your agent realizes. There are so many "layers of approval".  For example there is the mortgage insurance company and the investors that have to approve the sale.

• There is lots and lots of paperwork involved! Quite often the listing agent has to send the same paperwork numerous times since there is a "black hole" that some of it disappears into!

• Many lenders will not approve Home Warranties and quite often will limit the amount of closing costs on a short sale.

• Quite often short sales are "AS IS" sales. If the house does not meet your lender's requirements for financing you may either need to look at a different type of financing or move on to a different property.

• Understand that you still need to be reasonable with your offer. Usually a short sale is already listed significantly below normal market value. Your agent can advise and counsel you as to an appropriate offer based on comparables and an evaluation of the condition of the property.  Short sale homes may have deferred maintenance issues that could affect value.

• Every short sale is different! Sometimes the list price is approved by the lender and sometimes the listing agent is just trying to generate interest by dropping the price. Don't assume that the list price is the price the bank will approve!

• Quite often the agents commissions ( ie: paychecks) end up being reduced by the lender even though the agents are doing alot more work to try to get this worked out for you and the seller!

• The lender will order BPOs (Broker Price Opinions). The information that the BPO agent will primarily use will be recent sales from MLS (Multiple Listing Service).  Again as stated above be reasonable with your offer.  More than likely you will get a good deal but making a ridiculous offer will not help you to get the short sale worked out!

• Remember - this process is just as frustrating for the seller and the agents as it is for you! Your agent wants you to get the house you want for the price and terms that work for you! The listing agent wants to get their seller out of the situation they are in without a foreclosure on their credit. There is no advantage to any of these parties to drag their feet. Basically all parties have the same goal! Everyone wants to make it to the closing table!

This is just an overview. It is not intended to be a complete list of everything involved in a short sale. Hopefully this overview will help you understand more about short sales and what is involved, and help you to appreciate the efforts of all parties involved!

After all of this if you decide to make an offer on a short sale, remember Rule # 1 - patience, patience, patience!

If I can help you or anyone you know please feel free to contact me at Linda.Rademacher@century21.com or call me at 864-909-2500.

And please visit my website at http://www.sellingupstatesc.net/

SellingUpstateSC: Spartanburg Real Estate: IT'S OFFICIAL! Beaumont is now a Local Historic District!

SellingUpstateSC: Spartanburg Real Estate: IT'S OFFICIAL! Beaumont is now a Local Historic District!

SellingUpstateSC: Spartanburg Real Estate: Buyers: Don't Put the Cart Before the Horse!

SellingUpstateSC: Spartanburg Real Estate: Buyers: Don't Put the Cart Before the Horse!

Spartanburg Real Estate: Buyers: Don't Put the Cart Before the Horse!

I have been in real estate here in the Spartanburg SC area for over 12 years now and it never ceases to amaze me when buyers do not want to get preapproved! They want to go look at houses and WHEN they find the right one then they will get preapproved! Now, I suppose that makes perfect sense to them, however it is "putting the cart before the horse" as that old expression goes! Buyers, if you are reading this and recognize yourselves, please keep reading as I share why this does not make sense.

• Have you looked at your credit report lately? There could be something there that needs to be cleared up before you can buy!
• How much debt do you have? You may need to look at a different price home than you think you need to be looking at! Your debt ratios may prevent you from going as high you might like!
• Is your employment situation really permanent? Quite often you cannot get approved for a mortgage if you are a temp or a contract worker.
• Did you recently buy a new vehicle with a big new car payment to match? Could affect those debt ratios!
• Did you change jobs recently and now you work in a totally different field? You might need to wait a little longer!
• Past foreclosure, short sale, or bankruptcy? Usually need at least 3 years of really good credit history before you can buy again.
• Have you applied for alot of credit recently? Lots of inquiries can affect your scores!
• Any recent late payments? Many loans require a 12 month history of no late payments.

Buying a home is NOT like buying a car! Make sure you get preapproved before going out to look at homes and make sure you find qualified professionals to help you every step of the way. The home buying process can be lots of fun, but also can be stressful with lots of possible landmines along the way when you go it alone!

So, remember, don't put the cart before the horse!

Please feel free to contact me if I can help and visit my website at http://www.sellingupstatesc.net/.

Happy house hunting!!