Dani Hallsell | Real Estate Blog

  When was the last time the exterior of your home got a fresh coat of paint? Experts say houses should be painted every five years, although we know many homeowners who have greatly exceeded that deadline. That's okay, though. Now that you're selling, however, consider painting. Not only will the home look beautiful in the marketing photos, but buyers will perceive that the home has been lovingly cared for and maintained.  Stand in front of your home; what do you see?   Curb appeal. You'll often hear that phrase while researching how to prepare your home for the market.  Curb appeal is a buyer's first impression when looking at photos of the home's exterior or sitting in their cars at the curb before touring the interior. It's akin to dressing the part when applying for a job.  First impressions are critical. As you get closer to sale time and gather advice, you'll no doubt hear the term "neutral colors" repeatedly. And this advice has merit. A fe...

  The move to the new home is complete. Now, all that is left is to sell the old one. Selling a vacant house is slightly different from selling one you live in. Sure, the plusses (you don't have to keep the home clean all the time, and strangers don't traipse through) outweigh the minuses. Today, we'll concentrate on the latter with six quick tips to protect yourself, the home, and potential buyers who tour it. 1. Consider soft-staging the home If you recently house hunted, you know how challenging it is to look beyond a homeowner's taste in décor and furnishings to imagine your stuff in the home. It's even more challenging in a vacant home. This is most likely because homebuyers buy houses they are emotionally attracted to. The bottom line for the home seller is that vacant homes take 80% longer to sell than homes with furnishings and décor. If you need to sell quickly, consider ‘soft-staging’ (partially staging) the home. 2. Leave the utilities on When moving out ...

  Deciding to sell your home may be easy. Then again, for some, it's wrenching. After all, whether it's a condo in the heart of the city or a suburban tract home, our homes are full of memories and provide sanctuary at the end of a grueling day. Once you decide to sell, you'll face a lengthy list of other decisions. So, take the time to understand three essential aspects of a home's successful sale. 1. Understand market value The list price of a home represents what the seller thinks or hopes the house will bring. Determining market value requires looking into the recent past for homes that have sold similar to yours. Appraisers value the house based on this information, and it plays a big part in how we develop a list price suggestion. However, the sales price of recently sold homes primarily sets market value. Setting the right price out of the gate is critical to selling your home quickly. 2. Hit the ground running Your home's presentation dramatically influences...

  The housing market is shifting, and, as usual, the changes vary according to region. Some markets have fewer buyers viewing homes, which is most likely the result of the rise in mortgage rates. It is considered a buyers market when more homes are available to a limited buyer pool. When you decide to sell your home in a buyer's market, be ready for competition from other home sellers. There are many ways to make your home stand out, including staging, updating, and good marketing practices. Offering incentives to buyers is another method of enticement, making the purchase of your home more attractive and affordable than the home down the street.  Let's take a look at some of the more common incentives. Closing costs Title search and insurance, notary fees, HOA transfer fees, and appraisal fees are all closing costs. The buyer's average closing costs run between 2% and 5% of the loan amount, which represents a significant chunk of money for many homebuyers. On a $300,000 mo...

  Many Americans find buying and selling homes mysterious. This is not surprising since most people will only buy two to three homes in their lifetime. Once friends and family find out you are in the home buying or selling process, they tend to offer their advice.  This is how myths are formed—by people making assumptions about how something works. Let’s see if we can debunk some of the most common home-selling myths real estate agents face daily. Myth: The seller determines the home’s value Fact: Buyers determine a home's value, and their opinions are reflected in the prices of sold homes in the area. The International Society of Appraisers  quotes the Department of the Treasury’s fair market value definition as “the price at which the property would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under any compulsion to buy or sell, and both having reasonable knowledge of relevant facts.” Buyers base their willingness to buy on several fact...