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!