MAKE THEM LOOK! MAKE THEM CALL! MAKE THEM COME!

Sep30
2016

Written by mary.w

Home shoppers move quickly through websites viewing lots of properties in the hopes of finding their dream home. So, how do you make them stop and shop your ad?

PHOTOS: When it comes to online shopping, your photos are your first impression. If they don’t like your photos, they’re moving on. Inventory is vast in the cyber world so you only have a minute to grab them and keep them on your web page with photos that cause them to think, “This could be my home”! Gone are the days of teasing them with a couple of photos. They want to “walk through” your entire home online. If they like what they see, they will schedule a physical walk through. If they don’t, that’s ok too. Saves both of you from wasting your time. Tip: If you don’t take great photos, have your home professionally photographed and make sure your first 4 photos are your WOW factor photos causing them to continue through the rest! (For more tips see Blog article: Maximize your Photography)

DESCRIPTION: Keep it concise and to the point. Avoid writing a flowery novel about your wonderful life in your home. Your life might not reflect their life at all and you’ll actually cause them to move on. (ie: We have loved our friendly neighbors and neighborhood gatherings blah blah blah). If they are loners and don’t like to be bothered, they are not coming to see your home. Share your strongest highlights and details and be done!

BE REACHABLE: Nothing worse than being interested in a home and never being able to reach the homeowner to ask questions or schedule a viewing. Remember, your buyers are shopping electronically so they will most likely want to email you, call your cell phone or text you. If you can provide all three forms of communication, your results will be faster and stronger.

BE AVAILABLE: The more flexible you are with showings, the higher your odds of finding your buyer. If they can never coordinate with you to view your home, well, then they will buy someone else’s.

These might seem like obvious tips but sometimes the most obvious gets lost in the overwhelming task of selling your home. So before you become overwhelmed, do four simple things. Prepare, relax, show and sell!!

Posted in General Information, Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas, Uncategorized

Creative Spaces Create Visual Space!!

Sep21
2016

Written by mary.w

Kitchens are all about cabinets, storage and counter space. If your cabinet count is low but you have a small alcove in your kitchen that is not deep enough for extra cabinets try placing a bakers rack (like this one from the Container Store) as a creative alternative. Showcase your dishes, platters, pitchers, cookie jars….all the pieces of your most attractive set and then, if you choose, use the hooks to add the shimmer of your stainless or copper pans as a highlight.

Another option is to use a sofa table with storage underneath or some shelves and some baskets. You can purchase these in several depths allowing you to accommodate an area as shallow as 11 inches to a more typical size of 14 inches. Stores like Homegoods, TJMaxx, Target and others offer many options. Don’t hesitate to check out clearance rooms in furniture stores as well. Even more cost effective, check out a resale store and paint to match your decor so it looks like it was custom made for that spot. Showcase this as a buffet for serving guests by placing cookies and water for your ‘guests’ at Open Houses or viewings. Also expose it as a great place to store everyday or rarely used items on the lower shelves and in baskets, again creating an uncluttered appearance yet letting their mind realize there are options for extra ‘cabinet’ and counter space.

You can sometimes find items like this that will fit perfectly within the area you’re trying to fill (again looking like it was custom made for the space) and create a beautiful display to be both admired and functional while keeping your cost to a minimum.

Posted in Decorating on a Budget, Tips and Ideas, Uncategorized

STAGING DOESN’T HAVE TO BREAK YOUR BANK!

Sep08
2016

Written by mary.w

You’ve heard it on TV, from realtors, in magazines, etc. that in order to sell your home you need to stage it. It appears in many venues that in order to do this effectively, you need to (1) hire a staging company (2) re-decorate your entire home (3) remove everything that has any personal meaning to you at all (4) move out. None of these are essential and can be so costly that you never recoup what you’ve spent. If cost is not a factor for you and you want to go the professional route, go for it! BUT if you need to keep your expenses down so as to reap the most profit from your home’s equity, here are a few ideas to help you create a warm, inviting and saleable home!

TAP INTO YOUR NETWORK OF FRIENDS: Most of us have one of those friends whose home looks like it was professionally decorated when in fact they did it themselves. Everyone says, “Wow, their home looks like a magazine layout…she/he definitely has an eye for decorating.” Invite them over for coffee and ask if they can help you create a ‘staged’ look. Many people who have this gift, love to share it! Keep in mind, it’s important, if you do this, that you are not offended by any of their suggestions. It’s hard to be objective about your own home so listen with an open mind to their suggestions. (Once it’s finished, say thank you with a nice dinner or small gift!)

CHECK OUT MAGAZINES & CATALOGS: If you don’t have one of those friends, grab the most recent magazine that focuses on your style of home (Cottage, Traditional, Contemporary) along with Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, etc. magazines and websites. Look at how they have created their spaces and using your own items create the same ideas. (ie: Set your dining table as if you’re hosting a dinner party. If you have a breakfast bar counter, set that as well. Fill vases with fresh flowers right before a showing and for photos) Also, have fun walking through model homes. These are professionally staged. If you see an idea that you’d like to duplicate in your own home, use your phone to take a pic to refer to later. All these sources offer lots of ideas. Just make them your own!

DE-CLUTTER TO CREATE A STARTING POINT: The obvious starting point to all of this is to declutter and clean. Sometimes, that alone will change the entire ambiance of your home. Even if you don’t have a ‘decorator’ friend, you probably have one who will honestly walk through your home with you and let you know what jumps out to them as ‘issues’. Just like I said previously, it’s hard to be objective about your own home so keep your mind open to their suggestions. Go room to room with a note pad jotting down what needs to be removed, moved, cleaned or enhanced. This way you’ll have a list to work from once you get started. This will save you from roaming from one space to another without focus causing you frustration instead of satisfaction.

FOCUS ON THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES: Try rearranging your furniture to create a more spacious layout. If your furniture looks worn, purchase a sofa or chair cover to freshen up their appearance & add a throw across the back. Dining table beat up? Add a nice tablecloth and then set as described above. Clear off your counters, shine your windows and mirrors, dust or wash your window treatments, minimize personal photos but retain artwork, stage your coffee table with design magazines & a candle setting, organize closets & closet floors. Instead of putting down new carpeting or wood floors, clean what you have. If they need to be replaced, consider offering an allowance instead of putting the money out of pocket. There’s nothing worse than seeing all that new carpeting out at the curb because your buyer wanted hardwood floors. Make sure your listing notes the allowance being offered so the buyer can get excited about getting the floors they want instead of focusing on the ones that are there.

REMEMBER WHAT THEY’RE BUYING: Remember, they’re buying your home, not your stuff. When they arrive or view it online, it’s just another house. Your goal is to create the setting that causes them to walk through and believe that this could be ‘their home‘.

Posted in General Information, Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas, Uncategorized

HANDLE SPONTANEOUS SHOWINGS WITH EASE!

Aug26
2016

Written by mary.w

Fact: If you live in the home you’re selling, then sometimes your home looks “lived in”. So what do you do when the phone rings and a potential buyer wants to come through and all you can see are dishes in the sink, sports equipment and kids toys on the floors and laundry waiting to be done? Assuming you don’t have a live in cleaning person (we can dream, right?) then do a few quick pick me ups that won’t take too long to complete and will provide your prospects with a positive experience.

Important to Remember

If your home is too far gone, then try and give yourself some extra time to get it ready. Let the prospect know you can accommodate them in 2 hours (instead of in 45 minutes) and that you’re excited for them to view your home. You don’t want to miss out on a showing BUT the reality is even though; when you say, “please excuse the mess” and the buyer says, “oh that’s ok”…. IT’S NOT. Keep in mind, to a buyer, your obvious mess implies that there is probably an even bigger hidden mess under the stove, behind the refrigerator, etc. Purchase some stackable opaque storage bins that you keep empty so you can thrown in items that need to disappear at a moment’s notice. They can then be closed and neatly stacked in the basement, garage, or storage room during your showing while giving you easy access to those items once your ‘guests’ leave.

First Impressions Are Lasting! Move any clutter or shoes from the entryway. Even if you have a coat tree, take the coats off and put them in the closet. Perhaps put a great looking hat & scarf on the tree for style but a pile of coats minimizes the viewable space. DON’T throw everything on the floor in the closet. This will cause the closet to appear smaller than it is and buyers definitely will open your closets. Dirty laundry? Throw it in the washer or dryer. Just get it out of view.

Focus on Main Living Areas: Your top priorities should be the Kitchen, Living/Family Room, Master Bedroom and Bathrooms.

Kitchen: Empty the dishwasher daily so it’s always ready to be filled quickly. Clear your counters stashing everything except maybe your coffee pot. Remove stuff from the top of your refrigerator to reveal the cabinets above and take EVERYTHING off your refrigerator door and sides (might be special stuff to you…to your prospect it’s just clutter). Wipe down your appliances and floors (good to keep a swiffer type product handy…dry and wet for a quick swipe).

Living/Family Room: Vacuum carpets (just the areas that can be seen is fine) or wipe down wood/tile floors. Especially important if you have pets. Floating pet hair is not a good look and might be a problem if your buyer has allergies. Swiff away! Stash photos, magazines, etc. in one of those handy storage bins or if you have sofas with skirts just slide it all under the sofa and loveseat.

Master Suite: This is a very important room. If they love the Master, the other bedrooms become far less important. Let them see how much they’ll enjoy this private retreat. Get in the habit of making your bed every day so all you need to do is refresh the floors, hide the clutter (good reason to have a bed skirt….under the bed is a great hiding place)and give your table and dresser tops a quick wipe. Make sure your Master Bath is fresh, luxurious and reveals all its special features. Clear vanity tops and shower shelves, shine shower doors and mirrors. Add a lightly scented candle.

Bedrooms: Same as Master. Let your kids know that they need to make their beds every day as well. Toys, videos, books and clutter can be either put under their bed or thrown in a bin.

Baths: Clear vanity tops and shower shelves. Make shower doors and mirrors shine…no fingerprints or grime. Neatly hang fresh towels. Light a scented candle or give the room a fresh spray of something light with a linen or ocean scent. Toilets need to be clean, fresh and make sure the toilet seat cover is DOWN!

Make it Smell Fresh! Nothing feels more like home that the wafting aroma of baking bread. No time for that BUT it only takes a moment to place a tbsp of vanilla, almond or pumpkin extract on a piece of aluminum foil and put it in your oven at 250. Within a very short time your home will smell like you’ve been baking all day! Don’t use a lot of candles as that might imply that you’re trying to hide pet or other odors.

TIP: Enlist the whole family to help keep your home buyer ready and save yourself from feeling overwhelmed. Make a habit of swiffering your floors & dusting off tables daily as you walk through a room, loading and unloading the dishwasher, keeping the laundry up to date and put away, beds made and clutter in bins. Keep the front and top of the refrigerator clear. Put off season clothes in bins allowing for a more spacious view of your closets. Yes, you still live in your home but there are ways to make the spontaneous showing experience less stressful by keeping on top of things that can remain ordered.

Posted in General Information, Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas, Uncategorized

OPEN HOUSE – Should You or Shouldn’t You?!

Aug24
2016

Written by mary.w

OPEN HOUSE – SHOULD YOU OR SHOULDN’T YOU?

One of the first things many sellers contemplate when selling their home on their own is holding an Open House. How do you decide if this is a good option for you? If you decide to have one, what are your best methods for marketing, conducting and following up on your event? Let’s break it down one step at a time.

Should You Hold an Open House?

Though it seems like this is the best way to reach the most potential buyers in the shortest amount of time and in a very effective format, your area may not reap such positive results. So how do you know? Think back to the past couple of months. Have you noticed a lot of realtors holding open houses for the properties they have listed? If yes, then absolutely join in and get yours added to the list of upcoming events. If not, then you can be pretty sure that local agents have determined that open houses are typically not effective in your area. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try this method of reaching people but if you do, don’t be disappointed if your result is not what you had hoped it would be and then simply continue with your other forms of marketing.

What Day Will Reap the Most Reward?

If local realtors are typically holding open houses on a particular day, then having yours on the same day will allow you to draw in many of the people who are responding to their advertising simply by putting out lots of signs with arrows aiming them to yours. There is also something to be said for being the only open house out there on a different day as long as your area does draw in buyers and you do a lot of advertising to make sure people know it’s happening. You see most open houses on Sunday so jumping out on a Saturday ahead of the pack might reap you your buyer before they view all the other homes the next day.

Think outside the box! Is your neighborhood having a block wide yard sale? Leave flyers at all the houses inviting folks to a morning Mimosas & Muffins Open House. In a young, trendy area? Have a Saturday event from 4-7 pm with hors deurves and sparkling water in real glasses and create a party like ambiance for both these options. Allow them to see how great your home is for entertaining! For either of these events, have a friend taking care of handing out the food and drinks so that you are not pulled away from greeting your ‘guests’.

Marketing your Event is Critical!

Begin advertising your Open House at least 4-5 days prior to your event so people see it and plan on being there. If you have your home on online sites, ie: BuyOwner.com, MLS, Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, etc., use their tools to flag your ad with the details of your event including directions if offered. Don’t assume everyone has GPS. On the afternoon before or early on the day of your Open House, put Open House arrow signs on as many corners as possible aiming people into your area and to your home. Put your address BOLDLY on the signs and make sure they can follow them into your property. Check and see where other open houses are happening on that day and put your signs on those corners to help you grab more people. Put out flyers all over the area in coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores…anywhere that has community boards or will allow you to leave them on their counter. Put your event on sites like Craigslist that have a specific link for Open Houses. Put both photos and a brief description on your flyers and in ads. Cause buyers to choose to come view your home!

Conducting your Open House

Tools: (1) Guest Book thanking them for leaving their Name, Phone # & Email Address so you can follow up for feedback (2) Small Chilled Water Bottles or a Wine Carafe filled with water, mint & cucumbers or water with lemon (3) Cookies…If you don’t have time to bake, put out attractive store bought cookies and warm up a piece of foil with vanilla or almond extract in your oven for a half hour…your home will smell like you’ve been baking all day! (4) Details sheets to give them as they begin their walk through noting room by room upgrades/updates that they can take with them when they leave causing your home to remain in their visual memory (5) Blank contracts so if someone falls in love and wants to make an offer you’re ready!

*Have friends come by and wander through as “prospects” to add a sense of urgency to real buyers. Increase that feeling by having your friends take a blank contract with them when they leave implying an offer is imminent. Fear of loss is a great motivator! Also, if you live alone, it’s good to have a friend or a couple of friends stay with you throughout the event to welcome people if you’re answering questions and to also add to your sense of security with strangers coming into and through your home. ** Make sure and put your jewelry and valuables in a safe location out of view.

Following Up on Your Event

If people have left you their information, don’t hesitate to contact them and thank them for coming to your Open House and ask if they have any questions or would like to view your home again. If they’re not interested, be brave and ask them if they can offer you any feedback regarding their impression of your home. Don’t be offended! Use their response to help you improve your offering to the next prospective buyer. If they loved it but it didn’t fit their needs, ask them to pass on your home information to anyone else they know who might be interested in your area and type of home. Thank them again for their time.

Important To Remember

*Prepare by clearing clutter especially on counters and in closets (if you have a walk-in closet make sure they can walk in; cleaning windows, washing floors and vacuuming carpets; removing pet dishes, beds & toys (if you can’t have your pets stay somewhere else doing your event, make sure they are crated and out of the way) *Be careful to not be pushy or carry on too long when talking with prospects. Give people space yet be readily available to answer questions. *Don’t be offended if you hear someone saying something negative or they don’t walk through your entire home. Your tastes might not be their tastes. Your floor plan might not fit their needs. They are trying your home on for size….it simply might not fit! *Be positive and friendly. If you’re really sad about leaving your home, this is not the time to share that information. It may cause a buyer to fear that you might change your mind somewhere along the road to closing. *Most importantly, relax, take a deep breath, smile and have fun!

Posted in Uncategorized

It’s Now Cheaper to Own, than Rent

Nov29
2011 Leave a Comment

Written by Dan

With interest rates hovering around the 4% mark on a 30-year fixed mortgage, owning a home has become cheaper than renting in 12 metropolitan areas, including Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, and Chicago.

The Wall Street Journal states, “Home prices and mortgage rates have fallen so far that the monthly cost of owning a home is more affordable than at any point in the past 15 years and is less expensive than renting in a growing number of cities.”

Inventories of existing homes have begun to drop. Miami alone saw a 50% drop in their available inventory. South Florida has become a focal point for Northerners who are looking for a warmer climate, or Canadian property investors looking for homes to rent season to season.

Other areas where renting is becoming more expensive than home ownership include Jacksonville, Phoenix, Tampa and Las Vegas. All these areas are primed to see an increase in property sales and real estate values.

Although finding a buyer may not be as simple as it was five years ago, the recent figures show that people are looking for properties. The more properties sell, the higher property values will go. Listing a property now may gain you a buyer quicker than you think.

Posted in Market News, Press - Tagged chicago, florida, jacksonville, miami, rent or own, rent vs own, tampa

Organize your “Little” Clutter

Aug11
2011 1 Comment

Written by mary.w

Sometimes one of the most difficult de-cluttering challenges is what to do with all those ‘little’ items that just seem to accumulate and create a mess. Try some of these ideas and use them as a stepping off point of thinking up some of your own creative solutions.

* Pick a drawer or cabinet/closet shelf and use one or more of these options to hold thumbtacks, paper clips, rubberbands, buttons, spare birthday candles, salt & pepper and sugar/sweetner packets, etc.

(1) a 6 or 12 count cupcake/muffin tin…if you want to be able to remove the items in total for use in other areas put cupcake wrappers or silicone inserts into the tincups first. Then you can lift out the entire paper cup, carry it to where you are working and then return it to the cupcake tin when finished. This will also work for holding rings, chains and bracelets. You can spray paint the tin in whatever color matches your decor and it now becomes more than just a storage bin but adds to your overall look.

(2) Use an egg carton in the same manner as the muffin tin BUT cut out the inserts on one side of the open carton so that you have individual spaces on one side and an open flat surface on the other which can now accommodate scissors, letter openers, straws, nail files, etc.

(3) Apothecary jars, pickle jars, and other clear jars allow you to use various sizes and see what you have in them.

(4) Pick up pretty glasses at yard sales for .05 or .10 cents each and create a lovely visual display for your counter or cabinet when opened. Another great buy at yard sales (or in your own overstuffed basement) are vases and candle jars in all sizes, shapes and colors that will match your decor….if the candle jars still have pieces of a scented candle in them, take a blunt knife and chop them up. This will reactivate the scent and become pretty and add a lovely aroma to your area.

(5) For less than $1 you can purchase small terra cotta clay pots for starting plants from seeds. These can hold any number of small items in a very decorative manner and can be used in their natural state or painted with different colors or designs. Simple, easy and very personalized to your own decor and styles. You can also use the small size to hold qtips in the bathroom and a medium size to hold cotton balls. Again, they can be painted or decoupaged to match your personal decor giving you a completely finished and synergistic look.

(6) Need stylish office materials but don’t like the high costs in your office supply stores? Find a bathroom set at your favorite dollar store or discount retailer (like Target, Walmart or Kmart) that matches your office colors or adds a decorating splash of design. Use the toothbrush holder as a pen holder and the soap dish to hold staples, paper clips, thumbtacks or rubber bands. Finish off your look with the matching waste basket. You now have a cohesive look and more money left to be just as creative in another space.

The key to creating a personal and very stylized look for a minimal cost is to think outside the box and use items meant for one thing as something completely different. It is fun, can be turned into a family project and will be a source of pleasure every time you look at what you have created and realize that you’ve been financially responsible….so important in these economic times!

Posted in General Information, Home Improvement, Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas

Display with Simple Elegance!

Aug09
2011 Leave a Comment

Written by mary.w

Do you have a small alcove in your kitchen that is not deep enough for extra cabinets or large enough to accommodate even a small table? Always wanted a china cabinet to display your loveliest dishes? Try a bakers rack (like this one from the Container Store). Showcase your dishes, platters, pitchers, cookie jars….all the pieces of your set and then, if you choose, use the hooks to add the shimmer of your stainless or copper pans as a highlight.

You can sometimes find items like this that will fit perfectly within the area you’re trying to fill and create a beautiful display to be both admired and functional while keeping your cost to a minimum.

Posted in Decorating on a Budget, General Information, Home Improvement, Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas

Simple Solution to Storage Problem

Aug07
2011 Leave a Comment

Written by mary.w

Ever wish you had more room to put your cleaning supplies, extra bags, etc? Look no further than the back of your linen closet or laundry closet door. Purchase an inexpensive over the door plastic shoe bag and start filling it up. Not only does everything stay neater, they are more easily accessible when you need them and can be completely hidden away by simply closing the door. Storage doesn’t have to be expensive, free standing or shelving units. Be creative and re-purpose items to fit your needs.

Posted in Decorating on a Budget, General Information, Tips and Ideas

A Big Look at a Little Cost!

Aug05
2011 Leave a Comment

Written by mary.w

Redoing your kitchen but can’t afford the expensive (and highly desirable) 42 inch custom cabinets? Go to your local Home Depot or Lowe’s big box store and purchase their in stock cabinets (available in multiple shades of oak and maple or white). Stack 12 inch cabinets ontop of 30 inch cabinets. Not only do you have to desired look of 42 inch cabinets, they actually can be much more functional as separate cabinets.

Add the matching crown molding or put above cabinet artifacts to create a more expensive appearance while paying a much reduced price for an amazing look!

Posted in Decorating on a Budget, General Information, Selling Tips, Tips and Ideas

BuyOwner.com buy sell trade rent

MAKE THEM LOOK! MAKE THEM CALL! MAKE THEM COME!

Creative Spaces Create Visual Space!!

STAGING DOESN’T HAVE TO BREAK YOUR BANK!

HANDLE SPONTANEOUS SHOWINGS WITH EASE!

OPEN HOUSE – Should You or Shouldn’t You?!

It’s Now Cheaper to Own, than Rent

Organize your “Little” Clutter

Display with Simple Elegance!

Simple Solution to Storage Problem

A Big Look at a Little Cost!

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