Category Archives: Sellers

Prep Your Home Now for the New Year

Here are some simple maintenance tips that will help keep your home in good shape. Fortunately, most maintenance chores are quick and don’t require any special skills.

Maintaining appliances equals keeping the value in your home. This will help protect your investment, and one of the easiest waysnancy to do this is to keep up with maintenance on your property. It will also make preparations easier when you are ready to sell.

In the kitchen, clean the vent filters on your range hood before they get clogged with grease and dirt. Your range hood helps keep your home clean by pulling cooking smoke and grease out of the air. Disposable filters can be replaced regularly. If you have metal filters, wash them by hand.

Keeping the drip bowls under your stovetop burners clean will help keep your stove in good condition and prevent food particles from burning when you cook. Check the oven door to make sure it seals properly, so you don’t lose heat and energy every time you use it.

Keep your refrigerator running efficiently by vacuuming the coils a couple of times a year. Your refrigerator is one of the biggest energy users in your home.

To maintain your disposal, remove any large pieces stuck inside, then run ice through it to help clean out any small particles. You can add salt or vinegar to the ice for extra cleaning. It’s easy for food to get caught in your garbage disposal, which can create a bad smell in your kitchen. Freshen your entire kitchen by running a few small pieces of lemon or orange peel through the disposal.

For major appliances such as your clothes dryer, save energy and help protect your home from fire by vacuuming the lint out of the dryer exhaust vent at least once a year. Your clothes dryer is another big, expensive energy user in your home.

Your air conditioner will run more efficiently, use less energy, last longer and keep your home cooler if you change your disposable filter at least once a month. If you have a reusable filter, vacuum it every month.

You especially need to keep up with maintenance if you are getting ready to sell your home. By keeping up with these small maintenance projects, you’ll protect your home and make it easier to take care of larger issues as they come up. Contact me today for a consultation on selling your house, and to find out how much your home is worth.

 

Nancy Davidson
Mammoth Village Properties
760 937-2301 mobile
[email protected]
www.MammothCountry.com
CA Broker’s License #01264041

Nancy Davidson is your ultimate real estate resource for Mammoth Lakes, CA and The Eastern Sierra. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.

Photo by Sidekix Media on Unsplash

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Pricing Your Home to Sell

One area of listing a property that sellers tend to worry over most, is pricing a home. You want to sell your home quickly and get a fair price, but how do you know what to ask for it? Here are some tips on pricing your home to sell.

  • Leave your emotions out of the process. The price of your home shouldn’t include how much you paid for the house, how much you enjoyed living there, or the fact that your kids grew up there. You’ll need to base your price strictly on what your house is worth today in your neighborhood.
  • Look at similar homes in your neighborhood that have sold recently. This will give you an idea where to start pricing. You can also visit any houses that are currently for sale, to see how they compare to yours. Don’t rely strictly on square footage when you look at comps. You need to know details about how the home is laid out, what features are inside, and any upgrades to get an accurate idea of price.
  • The person who buys your home is going to have a mortgage in most cases. That means that your home’s appraised value must be at least the sales price. Keep this in mind when you are setting your price, so you don’t price your home too high. If the appraisal comes in lower than the sales price, the buyer won’t be able to get a loan for that amount.
  • Start with the right price. Unless you are in a really hot market with very low inventory, you will just end up lowering the price on your house, which will send a signal to buyers that it was overpriced. Likewise, pricing your home under market value to encourage multiple bids can backfire, if there is a lot of inventory or homes are not selling fast in your area.

The most important step in pricing your home is to talk to your real estate agent. A qualified real estate professional knows what’s going on in your neighborhood and can advise you on the best pricing strategy for your home.

Are you ready to sell your home? If so, contact me today. I’ll give you a market analysis to determine the value your home, so you can be sure to price it right for the local market.

 

Nancy Davidson
Mammoth Village Properties
760 937-2301 mobile
[email protected]
www.MammothCountry.com
CA Broker’s License #01264041

Nancy Davidson is your ultimate real estate resource for Mammoth Lakes, CA and The Eastern Sierra. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.

Image by mohamed Hassan from Pixabay 

The Top 3 Current Real Estate Trends

If you are thinking about buying or selling your home, paying attention to current market trends can help you sell your home for the best price, or find the perfect home for your budget. Here are a few market trends we see this year that could help you decide to buy or sell.

Low Inventory

This is a pro for home sellers but may be a struggle for home buyers. Low inventory means that there are fewer homes currently on the market. For home sellers, this could mean getting top dollar for your home since there is little competition. For home buyers, this could mean sellers may be less willing to accept offers below asking price, and several buyers may be interested in the same property, driving prices up.

New Home Sales

According to census.gov, new residential home sales are on the rise. This may mean your home may compete with new builds for home sellers if you are located near a new development. You may have to re-evaluate your listing price to stay competitive with the market. This could mean that building a new home may be your best option for home buyers due to the low inventory of existing homes. When building a new home, make sure you look at several different home builders to see what is standard for a new build. Not all homes offer the same standard options. Some builders may quote you a low base price but charge extra for upgrades such as hardwood flooring, granite countertops, and even landscaping. Some home builders may have a higher base price, but these “upgrades” are already included in their base package.

Remote Work

Working from home may affect a buyer’s decision to work further from home and might decrease the desire for homes located in major metropolitan areas and increase home sales in smaller suburban areas. For home sellers, this could mean reduced interest in your listing if you are trying to sell in a major metropolitan area but could mean increased interest if you live in a surrounding suburb. For sellers, if moving closer to a city center isn’t an issue, you may find that the pricing in these markets is better, and sellers are more willing to negotiate. On the flip side, if you are looking to move to a city suburb, you might find competition higher in these areas.

If you are a buyer or seller, make sure you do your market research before making a big decision to ensure you are making the right decision. Now may be the time for you to make a move, or you may want to wait for a rise in inventory. Either way, it is best to check the market temperature before you decide. Give me a call today, I will be happy to answer any questions you may have, help you to find your dream home and/or determine the value of your existing property.

 

Nancy Davidson
Mammoth Village Properties
760 937-2301 mobile
[email protected]
www.MammothCountry.com
CA Broker’s License #01264041

Nancy Davidson is your ultimate real estate resource for Mammoth Lakes, CA and The Eastern Sierra. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

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6 Tips for a Fast Winter Sale

Selling your home in the middle of winter doesn’t need to be more stressful than listing it in the spring or the summer. Yes, in the winter, your yard is brown and lacks color, and you have fewer hours of daylight for showings. However, not everyone has the luxury of picking the season to place their home on the market. And you may find it to be surprising, but winter does have its real estate advantages and can be a great time of the year to sell your home. The following is a list of tips to follow for a fast winter sale.

  • Team up with experienced help. Call your local real estate agent first and foremost. Joining forces with a professional is paramount. Your realtor comes equipped with years of experience, knowledge, and familiarity in winter home sales.
  • Price your home accordingly. The first few weeks of your home being on the market are the most crucial. Therefore, your initial list price should be your final price. A property that sits while the seller shaves bits and pieces of the price off becomes stale. Your realtor will perform a Comparative Market Analysis, providing you with an ideal list price.
  • Acknowledge your timing. The busiest time for home sales is in the spring and summer. Consequently, off-season listings can get a lot of attention. If your home is well-maintained and you are willing to price it right, realtors will often urge their clients to list in the winter, as the competition is much slimmer.
  • Prepare for the house hunters. De-clutter the inside of your home and warm it up. Warm and cozy should be your main objective. Utilize all-natural light, start a fire, and have music softly playing in the background. Outside, keep all ice, snow, and/or other winter hazards at bay. If a buyer cannot safely make it into your home, it won’t sell.
  • Take pride in your ownership. When showing your home, ask potential buyers to remove their shoes or slip into provided shoe coverings. By indicating that you take pride in your home’s smaller areas emphasizes that you must also take care of the large-scale areas. The buyer immediately acknowledges that they have entered a well-maintained home.
  • Consider your area and use the season to your advantage. In colder regions, a fresh layer of white snow can very nicely accent your home. And the barren trees can even work to your advantage. With the obstruction of trees in bloom out of the way, beautiful views open up. Remove Santa and his reindeer following Christmas but allow the wreath to stay hung on the front door. In the warmer regions of the country, winter is an ideal time to be showing your home. The snowbirds have all flocked to your neck of the woods, adding the naturalist qualities homebuyers are often looking for.

We must all face the facts. Winter is one of the four seasons. But the real estate market does not recognize it as any different from the other three seasons. Call me today to get started in pricing, preparing, and advertising your home for sale. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have, help you to find your dream home and/or determine the value of your existing property.

 

Nancy Davidson
Mammoth Village Properties
760 937-2301 mobile
[email protected]
www.MammothCountry.com
CA Broker’s License #01264041

Nancy Davidson is your ultimate real estate resource for Mammoth Lakes, CA and The Eastern Sierra. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.

Photo by Jessica Johnston on Unsplash

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Home Selling Tips

Are you thinking about selling your home? Even if you were actively involved in the home buying process, the home selling process might be vastly different from the paperwork involved to the way you need to prepare for the selling process. Below are some tips for sellers that will prepare you for your pending transaction.

The greatest number of showings will occur within the first few weeks of marketing, so being fully ready for visiting buyers on day one is critical. Online listing information tends to drive many home showings today. With an increasing number of buyers plugged into online databases, the moment a new home appears on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), interested buyers will want to see it.

Ensure your home is free of clutter and personal items, such as family photos, for showings, and real estate photos. Online images are the first impression of your home for potential buyers, and you want to put your best foot forward. Bear in mind that how your home is styled can make a tremendous difference in how quickly it sells. Buyers need to imagine themselves in your home. One of the best ways to facilitate that is to make your home as anonymous as possible by purging clutter and personal items. You may also find it helpful to remove large furniture pieces to make your home appear more spacious. Ensure your agent uses a professional real estate photographer, and you give them a clean canvas to work with. Twilight photography is also a great way to set your listing apart. Check with your agent to see if they offer this service.

Price your home competitively at the outset. Additionally, be aware of how buyers search for homes. Search parameters matter, particularly when it comes to price ranges. Lowering the listing price by even $5,000 could open up your home to far greater exposure. Online searches rarely, if ever, permit buyers to structure their price range requirements. Instead, they select from preset choices. Because of this, even a small price change can create a huge impact. For instance, a home listed at $255,000, as opposed to $250,000, could easily miss out on many prospects. Preset price search ranges typically benefit those who price at cut-off points. Thus, consider adjusting the price by as little as $5,000 to add many interested buyers to the mix. Since exposure to the maximum number of buyers increases the odds of success, keeping this pricing tip top-of-mind is extremely important.

Keep in mind that the style of your home could appeal to multiple demographics. For instance, the average starter home might appeal to first-time homebuyers and empty-nesters interested in downsizing. Likewise, a house with a bonus space could appeal to multi-generational home buyers or buyers looking for a home with office space or potential for an income suite.

Coupled with these helpful tips and your Realtor’s guidance, home sellers should find the selling process more efficient with greater odds of success at top dollar! If you have any additional questions or concerns about selling your home, I will be happy to answer any questions you may have, help you to find your dream home and/or determine the value of your existing property.

 

Nancy Davidson
Mammoth Village Properties
760 937-2301 mobile
[email protected]
www.MammothCountry.com
CA Broker’s License #01264041

Nancy Davidson is your ultimate real estate resource for Mammoth Lakes, CA and The Eastern Sierra. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.

Image by Gino Crescoli from Pixabay 

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Home Warranty Pros and Cons

When you are selling your home, you will want to do everything you can to help your home stand out from its competition. Before listing your home, it is important that your home be very clean, decluttered, properly staged and priced appropriately. Depending on the market, sometimes even that is not enough. Another thing you could consider when selling your home is to provide a home warranty to the new buyers of your home. This can be a nice selling point for several reasons.

A home warranty covers the components of a home, such as heating and cooling systems, appliances and water heaters but usually doesn’t include minor repairs such as plumbing leaks or anything cosmetic like painting and flooring. It can be purchased at any time though they are most often purchased during home transactions. The price can vary depending on the size of the home, age of the home and the options you select. After purchasing the warranty that normally lasts for a year though you can renew it in future years. You will pay a predetermined amount for a covered repair and the remainder of the repair will be covered by the warranty company. It is imperative that you call the warranty company before contacting someone to do the work if you want the warranty company to cover the repair.

For the buyer of your home, a home warranty can offer additional peace of mind. They will have a little extra comfort that many repairs can be made using the warranty and not deplete all of their savings. While everything at home doesn’t cost thousands of dollars, it isn’t uncommon for one repair to cost more than the cost of a warranty.

For the seller, a home warranty may bring in more buyers, especially if the person is selling an older home. First-time buyers don’t always have a lot of money to put into the property, and a warranty would reassure them they won’t have a lot of major expenses.

Think of a home warranty like an insurance policy for repairs to your home. Like insurance, the warranty doesn’t cover everything but it can cover many items and give you some extra peace of mind and for a buyer may just be the thing that helps them select your home over a similar one down the street. For additional information regarding the home buying or selling process, I will be happy to answer any questions you may have, help you to find your dream home or determine the value of your existing property

 

Nancy Davidson
Mammoth Village Properties
760 937-2301 mobile
[email protected]
www.MammothCountry.com
CA Broker’s License #01264041

Nancy Davidson is your ultimate real estate resource for Mammoth Lakes, CA and The Eastern Sierra. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.

Image courtesy American Advisors Group/flickr.com

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The Benefits of Virtual Home Staging

Virtual home staging has greatly increased in popularity in recent years. The benefits of home staging are significant and can help homes sell faster and for more money. With traditional staging, a home staging expert or interior designer will make design updates to a home to help buyers visualize the greatest potential. Home staging can be costly in some cases depending on if furniture needs to be rented if the home is empty, how long staging is needed for and the location you live in. With virtual home staging, a photographer can add the same staging elements to a photo that a stager would add to the home, so the photos are more appealing. With virtual home staging, what are the benefits?

A picture is worth a thousand words is a very popular saying and with virtual home staging, a poor photo can become superior. When homes are empty, cluttered or have dated furniture, visual enhancements can improve that. In some cases, a home may be so full of furniture, you can’t see the home itself. Virtual staging can remove the furnishings and clutter so you actually see the home that you would purchase.

Another great use for virtual staging is to update dated furnishings so the home looks fresh and modern. Dated furnishings and those in poor condition can give buyers a negative perception of a home and that is the last thing you want. Another use for virtual staging is to change the use of a room. A homeowner may have not wanted a dining room and be using it as an office or playroom. Use virtual staging to show additional options for the space other than its current use.

Virtual home staging takes less time and resources to complete than traditional home staging so you will not spend as much money to help the home look its best. With the popularity of internet home searches at an all time high, staging photos virtually will allow many prospective buyers to see the best photos of your home so they aren’t turned off by original images that make your home look less than appealing.

Virtual staging has risen in popularity in recent years and is still climbing. With buyers visiting fewer homes in person before making an offer, virtual staging can help your home put its best foot forward and allow potential buyers to better envision themselves in your home. If you have any additional questions or concerns about selling your home, I will be happy to answer any questions you may have, help you to find your dream home and/or determine the value of your existing property.

 

Nancy Davidson
Mammoth Village Properties
760 937-2301 mobile
[email protected]
www.MammothCountry.com
CA Broker’s License #01264041

Nancy Davidson is your ultimate real estate resource for Mammoth Lakes, CA and The Eastern Sierra. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.

Image by p_kennedy123 from Pixabay 

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Three Mistakes to Avoid When Selling a Home

When you are ready to sell your home, there will be many things that are important for you to take care of. How do you know what’s a big deal and what isn’t so big? With emotions involved, it’s easy to lose sight of the primary goal and what matters most. Let’s start with three items that you want to be sure you make the best decision on so you don’t start the home selling process with a disadvantage.

Agent Choice
Probably, the first choice you will make is selecting the agent to work with when selling your home. Your real estate agent will help you navigate the muddy waters of paperwork, price your home accordingly for today’s market, communicate with buyers and other agents about your home and market your property online and through other methods. Choosing the right agent can make the difference between selling and not selling your home.

Price
Your price will determine if and when you sell. If you underprice your home, you will sell quickly but give up value. If you overprice your home, your home will sit on the market while you grow increasingly frustrated. The key is pricing your home just right so you attract the most interest possible that turns into showing activity and offers. This is a hard balance to achieve but an experienced agent will research your home and the current market to recommend the best price for your home.

Condition
There is nothing worse than showing up to look at a home to discover that the interior is dirty and in poor condition. Sometimes photos may not show the true picture and while you may have a few showings, if your home is in poor condition, you are unlikely to get an offer unless you have advertised the condition of the property accurately. Most people want a well-cared for home to purchase. It may need some updates but if it is filthy with chipped paint, worn carpet and other flaws, buyers will be turned off right away. From curb appeal and throughout the home, the home needs to look its best.

A little planning and consideration on your part can make selling your home go smoothly. Get the help you need when it comes time to sell by contacting me for a consultation. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have and help you determine the value of your home.

If you have any additional questions or concerns about selling your home, I will be happy to answer any questions you may have, help you to find your dream home and/or determine the value of your existing property.

 

Nancy Davidson
Mammoth Village Properties
760 937-2301 mobile
[email protected]
www.MammothCountry.com
CA Broker’s License #01264041

Nancy Davidson is your ultimate real estate resource for Mammoth Lakes, CA and The Eastern Sierra. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.

Image by HobokenHome7 from Pixabay 

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Summer is the New Spring

Ahhhhh, summer! Like many, you probably established a lifelong love of the summer season, which offered the promise of warm days, late nights and lots of fun, when you began elementary school. Across the country, many people are counting on summer to have a similar feel this year with loosening restrictions, an improved economy and hopefully a little more fun than spring. This year, more than ever before, we hope summer will offer a boost to the real estate market as the current momentum hints that we may see activity levels we generally see in the Spring. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Spring market real estate agents have come to love was almost non-existent. As travel was halted, everyone stayed home and the country was on hold in so many ways, the real estate market saw an uncharacteristic drop in activity during March and April. Some markets did see activity begin to pick up in May and June continued that trend.

The good news for you if you are planning to sell your home is that you didn’t miss the best window of opportunity this year. In fact, now is better than ever. Increased demand after months of the unknown has buyers making offers quickly, sometimes without seeing the home in person and in many cases, sellers are receiving multiple offers since buyer demand is greater than the available inventory.

If you are hoping to capitalize on the momentum, it’s time to act now. Start by calling your favorite real estate agent (that would be me) and let’s talk about the current market. We will want to discuss your property as well as the market conditions and the changes to the real estate market that are related to the pandemic. Like many things, real estate agents have adapted to the new normal and are working to safely list, market and sell your home without causing unnecessary risk to your family.

We have implemented lots of different ways to help you sell your home virtually including online appointments, enhanced virtual tours of your home for marketing purposes, electronic paperwork and much more. All of these items will come together allowing us to sell your home without increasing the exposure to you. If you have sold a home before, you may notice a few changes in the way I serve you but not in the overall outcome and the customer service you receive. If you have questions about the current market and what you can expect moving forward, give me a call today. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have, help you to find your dream home and/or determine the value of your existing property.

 

Nancy Davidson
Mammoth Village Properties
760 937-2301 mobile
[email protected]
www.MammothCountry.com
CA Broker’s License #01264041

Nancy Davidson is your ultimate real estate resource for Mammoth Lakes, CA and The Eastern Sierra. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay 

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What to Expect if You are Selling Your Home Virtually

In this day and time, as we limit our in-person contact, selling your home presents some unique challenges. Your agent will need access to your home and buyers that are searching for a new home will need to view your home to determine if they like it or not. Technology has made this easier than ever so there are some unique ways to make all of this easier. Here is what you can expect if you are selling your home during this virtual time.

Start with the agent accessing your home. For first meetings, consider handling them over the phone. When it comes time for the agent to view the home, you could use Facetime or Skype to show them your home or have them come in person while wearing a mask and gloves to do their walk through. During the walk through, you can stay on opposite sides of the rooms you are in and then continue your conversation outside after they have seen the inside of your home. To prepare your home to be shown on the Internet, a photographer will need access to your home, but they can use the same precautions as your agent to limit contact by social distancing and wearing protective equipment.

One way for buyers to get a good sense of your home is by accessing a virtual tour. These tours come in many different formats and allow the buyer to see many photos of your home and in some cases walk buyers through your home as they view the photos, so they understand the layout. While these options may not give them the confidence to make an offer, they will allow many buyers to eliminate the house or determine that is likely to be a good fit. Having these virtual options available to buyers will decrease the number of buyers that need to see your home in person.

For buyers that are still not quite sure, an agent could visit the home and show it to them via FaceTime or Skype so there are fewer people in your home. Assuming the buyer likes everything they have seen about your home online, they can then schedule an in person visit to your home where they will wear masks and gloves and limit touching of surfaces. You should leave doors to all rooms and closets open and all lights on, so they don’t have to touch those surfaces while in your home.

After you successfully negotiate a contract on your home, which can be signed electronically, expect closing to look a little different. In recent years, home closings have been attended by many people including the buyer and seller, real estate agents from both sides, mortgage lenders and the closing agent. These days are over. Expect the buyer and seller to sign documents separately and only the closing agent to be present. This will allow you to limit your contact to as few people as possible while still accomplishing all of the necessary requirements for selling your home.

If you have any additional questions or concerns about selling your home, I will be happy to answer any questions you may have, help you to find your dream home and/or determine the value of your existing property.

 

Nancy Davidson
Mammoth Village Properties
760 937-2301 mobile
[email protected]
www.MammothCountry.com
CA Broker’s License #01264041

Nancy Davidson is your ultimate real estate resource for Mammoth Lakes, CA and The Eastern Sierra. Visit my website for detailed information regarding today’s real estate markets.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay 

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