Archives for April 2014

5 Spring Selling Mistakes Sellers Make…

Unfortunately, when market factors start to feel like magic, too many sellers fall prey to the risk of thinking homes just “sell themselves.”

Here are five potholes you and your sellers, literally, can’t afford to stumble into this spring:

1. Demand “Dumbification”

Yes, I just made the word up, but the complex is real. It’s bad when a client can’t see beyond their emotional attachment to a home. It’s even worse when your sellers ignore the facts about what’s making today’s buyer’s fall in love.

According to a recent National Association of Home Builders survey, the top features that will help your home compete with new listings that are hitting the market are:

Walk-in Master closets
Energy efficient windows and appliances
Laundry room and
“Great” rooms that are multi-purpose for the family

Instead of highlighting key features like these, many time sellers just want you to focus on emphasizing the features that mean the most to them.

While your seller’s pay you to stay in touch with the latest real estate trends, like these, it can pay for you to pass the information on when making staging and renovation recommendations.

2. Over-meditation

Spring buzz means busy buyers who are looking to make a move fast. Long before an offer, buyers deliberate on which home is their best choice. And, while your listing may be option one; remind your sellers that there’ s always an option two, three, and four who are ready to close now.

That means you and your sellers need a selling plan. Sit down and discuss important questions like these to prepare for likely scenarios:

What is your ideal sale price?
What is the lowest price you’re willing to accept?
What repairs, improvements, or concessions are you willing to make?
What other important factors, like closing date, are high priority for the transaction?

Knowing and documenting these answers up front can save a lot of time during negotiation. Ensure your sellers don’t end up with withdrawn offers over something as simple as a slow or an unreasonable response. In this market, the best way to negotiate is to think ahead.

3. Hidden Gems

After living in a house for 20, or even three, years sellers can forget some of the most important reasons they love to call the place home. These missed selling points can make a real difference in moving a home in days verses months. To jog the sellers memory and make sure you have a full list of selling points to share on Trulia, social media, and everywhere else you advertise,

Have your sellers complete this free Survey for Home Sellers,
Ask the sellers to have friends and family e-mail you one-thing you like about the home, and
Make your sellers take you on their own personal showing where they try to sell you a home.

Yes, these things take time but they could save you a lot of work when it’s time to put together online listings or other collateral.

4. Un-staging

We led off this year with a 25 percent surge in visits to real estate websites across the nation according to a recent Inman News article. That makes every piece of online listing content even more valuable and important.

Online shoppers want to see themselves in a home; and let’s face it, imagination is easier when someone else does the work. Help your sellers see the benefits of staging by

Taking them to well-staged homes,
Clicking through photos of other blank rooms online, or
Showing off your past staging talents with your portfolio.

You know that a few small tweaks can make a world of difference when trying to get buyers to see the potential in a home. Help your sellers see the light and avoid being edged out by the competition because they didn’t make the effort of proper staging.

5. The Sure Shot Mindset

Yes, spring is typically a hot season when it comes to home sales. However, this year hasn’t shown to be the magic turnaround some were hoping.

According to Trulia’s Chief Economist, Jed Kolko, “Spring home buyers might be surprised that national housing data have pointed to a recent market slowdown…nationally new construction starts and existing home sales have been sluggish.”

In fact, the National Association of Realtor’s March Home Sales Report showed existing home sales were almost flat from February to March.

The sure-shot mindset that a home is “guaranteed to sell” this spring is probably the most dangerous of the potholes. The truth is, a home sale isn’t a guarantee until buyers have closed and have the keys. That means sellers need to be prepared to compete in every way possible including making renovations, being flexible with showing times, and doing whatever else you advise to move their home into a new buyer’s hands.

Breaking News: Handyman Services Save Homeowners Money!

Whether you’re standing around the water cooler, talking shop in the garage, or sipping wine at a dinner party, there’s a lot of talk these days about which home remodeling projects are a good investment, and which ones are best left for better economic times. That said, the smartest choice for you, your home, andyour bank account might be shifting your attention away from major remodels, and giving your local handyman a call instead.

What advantages does a handyman have that your average G.C. is lacking during times of economic hardship? Let’s take a look.

To put it simply, why pay to remodel your entire bathroom when installing a new sink and upgrading your shower fixtures will do? We live in a society where the reigning mantra is “more, more, more,” and the world of home improvement is no exception. Handymen specialize in just the opposite: smaller jobs that cost less money, but that make a big difference, nonetheless.

Because handymen focus on smaller jobs around your house, they usually charge less for their services than a big-time contractor would. Sure, Joe General Contractor might deserve the big bucks if he’s coordinating work between your architect, framers, concrete guys, drywallers, and painters, but if you’re opting for home improvements on a smaller scale it doesn’t make sense to pay all that extra money for services that you just don’t need.

Quick Service

While you often have to schedule appointments with other contractors weeks or months ahead of time, most handymen will bend over backwards to fit you in as soon as possible, especially if you have a pressing need, such as a plumbing leak, frozen pipes, or a failed heating system. In fact, once you find a good handyman, it’s not a bad idea to put his number on speed dial. You won’t find better peace of mind as a homeowner than knowing you’ve got competent Mr. Fix-It just a phone call away.

A handyman, by definition, is a jack-of-all-trades. That said, you can save yourself a lot of money, time, and frustration, by calling a handyman to tackle all of your household needs in one visit, rather than paying separately for the high prices of specialized contractors like plumbers, painters, and carpenters, to do the same jobs.

Some of the smartest home improvements when it comes to raising energy efficiency and cutting energy costs are the most common sense—a fact that’s important to remember as winter sets in. Simple green upgrades that are well within the ability of most handymen include weatherstripping, caulking and sealing doors and windows, maintaining your heating system properly, and upgrading insulation—all of which can dramatically lower your utility bills during cold winters and tough times.

The Handyman Can!

In fact, since we’re on the subject, there’s almost nothing that a handyman can’t, or won’t, do. The short list includes (but isn’t limited to!):
• Plumbing installation and repair
• Electrical work, including hanging ceiling fans, light fixtures, and installing new outlets
• Home maintenance tasks, such as gutter cleaning, power washing, and chimney sweeping
• Roof repair
• Drywall patching
• Interior and exterior painting
• Small installations, such as replacement windows, shelving, sinks, countertops, vanities, and cabinetry
• Basic carpentry
• Insulation upgrades
• Tile, laminate, hardwood, and other flooring installations

If you do decide that hiring a handyman is the right choice for you and your home, make sure you do your homework ahead of time. Unlike specialized contractors like plumbers, electricians, and even general contractors, handymen aren’t required to pass any tests or obtain licensing to go into business. That means that anybody with a toolbox, a tool belt, and a phone number in the yellow pages can call themselves a handyman, whether they know what they’re doing or not. In order to make sure that your attempt to save money doesn’t end up bleeding you dry, be sure that you get bids from at least 3 handymen, and ask for, and check, references before you hire. It’s the only way to ensure that your handyman hire is going to provide you with the tip-top service you deserve.

3 Tips to Clear the Clutter

If just thinking about cleaning your home from top to bottom and getting rid of all the clutter you’ve acquired since the day you were handed the keys is enough to overwhelm you, you’re not alone. However, with a little planning, you can get your home back in shape while keeping the stress at bay. These three simple tips will help you say goodbye to clutter for good.

Make a plan. Decide which projects take priority. Does your closet need a massive redo? Are your kitchen drawers jammed with so much clutter they won’t open? Are you buried under an avalanche of assorted storage containers every time you open your kitchen cabinet? Once you decide what you want to tackle, put it on your calendar. Setting a date will keep you from finding excuses to put it off, and it will give you time to plan.

Be creative. You have a target date and a list of projects—now what? Before you begin, think about what storage features you are lacking. Be creative. For example, try using bins to create easy weeknight meals in a basket. A bin labeled “spaghetti night” would contain pasta, a jar of sauce, and a loaf of Italian bread.

Make some room. If you’re like most people, your closet might also be in serious need of attention. Shoe organizers and storage bins are always useful in the closet. Take everything out of the closet until you have an empty space. Sort everything you haven’t worn or used in the past year into two piles: toss and give away. Place items back into your closet by type (pants, skirts, suit jackets, etc.). If you have empty wall space in your closet, add hooks. The more hooks, the better—use these for belts, ties and scarves.

6 Smart Things to do with a Tax Refund

Getting cash back from Uncle Sam? Here’s how to make the most of it!

BUILD YOUR EMERGENCY FUND. It’s critical to have a financial emergency fund. Experts suggest a three month reserve of all fixed expenses- mortgage, utilities, food. But any amount will help handle a financial surprise.
FUND YOUR RETIREMENT. If your employer doesn’t offer a retirement plan or you’re already meeting their match, you could use your refund to start an IRA. It gives you tax benefits and more control over your investment options. Always consult with a tax professional about tax matters.
PAY DOWN CREDIT CARD DEBT. If your credit card interest rate is 15% or more, finance charges on your balance can double or triple the cost of every item you buy. Your tax refund can reduce or eliminate that balance and interest expense Why pay for yesterday’s dinner out for the next 10 years?
CATCH UP ON MAINTENANCE. Use your refund to pay for home and office maintenance jobs you’ve been delaying. Things can cost even more if you wait to fix them.
GET AN ENERGY AUDIT. Good ones run several hundred dollars, but the information they provide can save you lots more. Learning where to seal up leaks and add insulation will reduce your energy expenses for years.
INVEST IN YOURSELF. Getting ahead today often means developing new skills. Spending money on a weekend conference, continuing education classes or an online course can lead to a higher paying career.

Home Ownership Pays!

No question about it, home ownership is a big investment, maybe the largest you’ll ever make. But over time, it’s an investment that pays for itself many times over. Here’s how:

Tax Advantages

Mortgage Interest is tax deductible
Real estate taxes are tax deductible
Local tax benefits (Florida Homestead Exemption)
You can enjoy a tax-free profits up to $500,000 from the sale of a primary residence that you have occupies for tow of the last five years, if you are married and filing jointly. If you’re single or married filing separately, you can enjoy tax-free profits up to $250,000

Investment Benefits

You build equity over time, which you take in cash when you sell your home
The profits from home investments are often greater than from many other investments
Because you can borrow against it in most states, home equity can be a source of emergency funding
Land appreciation adds to the value of your home
For many, home owning is an important part of retirement planning

Personal Satisfaction

You gain more living space
You enjoy the satisfaction and pride of home ownership
Home ownership is, for many people, a sign of independence and achievement

It might seem like a long way from renting to owning, but many times, a little expert advice and creativity are all you need to make the leap. If you’re ready to own, contact me – I can guide you through the process and help make your dreams of owning a home come true!

Bob Vila’s “Must Do” Projects for April

Spring has sprung! While cool temperatures may not be completely behind us, it’s certain that April will usher in warmer days, making it the perfect month to get back to beautifying the yard and garden. The season is likely to bring rain, so be sure to clear your gutters of debris and resolve any water issues in the basement. Getting those tasks out of the way now will give you time to refresh your home’s curb appeal, tackle a DIY project or two, and sow some seeds for your summer vegetable garden.

Clean Gutters of Debris

Along with prepping the basement, spring showers also call for outdoor maintenance. Prevent flooding by clearing the gutters of debris and positioning the downspouts away from the foundation. Ideally, water should flow three feet away from the house, so consider running an extension or trough.

A Fresh Coat of Paint

A new paint job will transform the look of your exterior, and it makes sense to tackle the job before the dog days of summer. Think about using a contrasting color on trim or architectural details. For maximum curb appeal, factor in the color of your roof.

Tune Up the Lawn Mower

Before the grass gets too high, make sure the mower is in good working order. Clear away any old, dried grass clippings—if you failed to do so in the fall—and change out the filter and oil. If you left some gas in the mower over the winter and it doesn’t start up, try draining the gas tank and starting fresh.

Make a Planter for Your Deck

If you’ve got a green thumb, pick up a deck rail garden planter at your local garden center, or flex your DIY muscles by making your own. With a saw, drill, hammer, and a free afternoon, you can build a few planter boxes for about $40.

Sow Your Seeds

Once the danger of winter frost has passed, April is the best month for sowing many vegetable varieties outdoors.Plant your garden in raised beds for optimal drainage, or directly into the yard if your soil is arable. Choose your plants wisely and opt only for what you already like—no one wants to get stuck with a bumper crop the family won’t eat.

Keep Pollen-Free

April is peak pollen season across much of the United States, so allergy sufferers should take precautions now. Keep windows closed and clean or replace filters for air-conditioning units. While you’re at it, change the air filter in your car. To avoid bringing allergens indoors, those who love sun-dried laundry should wait until after pollen season to use the outdoor clothesline.

List the House

Thinking of putting your house on the market? Spring is historically the best time to do so. Before you list, put your best face forward with a few minor curb appeal updates. Simple staging tips can transform your interior too. For example, you’ll make it easier for buyers to picture themselves in their new home by packing away family memorabilia and knickknacks.

Do Something Fun!

Because you’re likely to spend more time outdoors this month, why not take on an enjoyable DIY project that will enhance the beauty of your lawn or garden. You can easily make a birdbath by stacking different-size inverted terra-cotta pots one on top of the other. Other great outdoor projects include building a fire pit, trellis, or raised garden bed.

Start Composting

The best gardeners know that compost is better than fertilizer when it comes to providing a nutrient-rich growing environment for plants. Composting is easy and inexpensive, and anyone can do it. For the best compost, you’ll need to know what not to put into the mix—and remember that your compost needs to stay warm and aerated.