Tag Archives: sellers

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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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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The Paperwork of Selling a Home

If you are thinking about selling your home, you will want to understand the paperwork that the agent will have you sign when you list your home. There are different kinds of listing agreements you may choose to have with an agent, and it is important to understand the differences so you will make the right decision for you.

Exclusive Right-to-Sell Listing. An exclusive right-to-sell listing is the most common listing type and the majority of real estate listings fall into this category. The listing agent has complete control of the transaction and so even if the seller, the listing agent or a cooperating selling agent finds an acceptable buyer, the listing agent will still earn the sales commission for the duration of the listing term.

Exclusive Agency Listing. An exclusive agency listing contracts one agent to sell the home. If that agent, or any other licensed cooperating agent finds an acceptable buyer, the seller must pay a sales commission. The owner still reserves the right to sell the property by themselves and thus avoid paying a commission. The broker is free to cooperate with another brokerage, meaning the second brokerage could bring an able buyer whose offer the owner accepts. Typically, the broker is paid a listing commission that is shared with the selling broker, so the owner pays both fees.

Open Listing. An open listing is almost like a “for sale by owner” listing. It is a non-exclusive agreement, which allows the owner to execute open listings with more than one real estate broker and pay only the broker who brings an able buyer whose offer the owner accepts. However, no commission is owed if the seller finds a buyer on his own, without any agent’s help. The open listing creates competition between the seller and agent(s) to find a willing buyer.

Multiple Listing Service. The multiple listing service (MLS) is not a listing type but is an important marketing tool for listing agents. This allows all the listing information as well as photos of the property to be shared online and is frequently syndicated to thousands of websites from here for maximum exposure.

Pocket Listing. A pocket listing is a variation of any of these listing types that doesn’t get placed in MLS. These listings may be marketed online by the listing agent but without going in MLS, they don’t get the same exposure as listings that do.

The listing agreement isn’t the only paperwork you will have to complete but it is an important piece. In most cases, you will need to fill out disclosures that share details about the home and the condition of the home. There may also be agency agreements that explain an agent’s obligations to you. The disclosures will be provided to interested buyers while your property is listed to give them more information about the home.

When you are listing your home, take time to read the paperwork and ask questions. In most cases, it is pretty straight forward and easy to understand. It is important to understand that a real estate listing contract is a legally binding agreement that outlines the rights and duties of the seller and the agent. Keep in mind that all listing contracts have expiration dates, so you aren’t committed to an agent forever if something doesn’t work out. When you are ready to list your home, let me know and I will be happy to go through the paperwork with you and 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 aymane jdidi from Pixabay

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Selling a Home that Isn’t Move-In Ready

When you are selling a home, many buyers are looking for a perfect home that they can move right in without having to make many updates. While a few homes are perfect, most are not. Even homes that are perfect for the current owner may not be perfect for anyone else. What we are really talking about isn’t homes that need minor changes but homes with flaws that will almost certainly need to be corrected by the new owner. If you are trying to sell a less than perfect home, how do you appeal to buyers that are looking for that kind of property?

Price is key. You can’t price your home in comparison to other homes that are move-in ready. Take into account the major items that need to be updated and repaired and adjust your price to compensate for that work. This won’t be a dollar for dollar comparison because everyone will choose to make different updates but average pricing for necessary repairs should be applied to the value of the property.
Consider having a home inspection completed prior to listing the home and share that inspection with prospective buyers. This will allow prospective buyers to know if there are any major issues with the home aside from any cosmetic updates they choose to make.
Make sure you are upfront with your real estate agent, so they know what you are willing to do and not do when it comes time to negotiate an offer or repair request. While you will still be making the decisions, knowing where you stand up front can help them better represent you and keep you informed if they think your approach is unrealistic.
Don’t reject an offer based on the buyer’s first offer without making a counter offer. Some buyers are just fishing for a deal but can be realistic when you negotiate.
Try to separate your emotions from the sale. As hard as this can be, base your price and negotiations on recent comparable sales and not on your fondness for the house.

If the property you are selling was a great home for you, know that it will be that for someone else too. Approaching the sale of the property realistically is the greatest chance for someone else to turn your house into their home. If you have any additional questions 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 David Mark from Pixabay

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The Importance of Your Online Presence

When you list your home for sale, one of the most important steps will be preparing your home’s online presence so it is ready for the public to view it online. If your home looks uninviting when it first shows up online, it may be hard to overcome that and capture positive attention in the future. In today’s market, almost all buyers start their home search online. In the current real estate market, homes are presented with virtual tours, 3D walk-throughs, video and more options that allow prospective buyers to step inside your home like never before. It is important that your home look its best when all of these marketing tools are created so it will appeal to as many buyers as possible.

A Pew Survey conducted in early-2019 revealed 81% of U.S. adults own a smartphone. With smartphones in so many hands, your home has an increased potential of being seen by these individuals. Once they see your home, they will eliminate it from consideration if they don’t find it appealing. This has some important implications for folks with houses on the market. You need to ensure that your listing gives a potential buyer the best possible picture of why they should consider your property at the price you want for it. Whether you’re selling on your own or have the help of a real estate professional, you need to consider the following:

A picture is worth a thousand words, and a great picture of your home will push buyers to schedule an appointment to see your home in person. This is the step that will then help them want to make an offer on your home. As visual creatures, we’re never going to get past that first impression. You must make sure that the photos you use in your listing capture the best possible image of your home. You want a buyer to not just see your home but see themselves living in your home. This isn’t the time for an amateur (yourself included) so enlist the help of a professional. You’re not looking for anything tricky or deceptive. But a working knowledge of framing and light can yield a picture that’s just a little better and more likely to catch the eye of browsing buyers.

The words used in your listing are also extremely important. You want the description to strongly sell the best aspects of your house, and to complement and reinforce the photos being used. Longer is not necessarily better. Short descriptions that evoke powerful, positive images in a reader’s mind are always best. Also, no one is going to intentionally misspell words or use incorrect grammar, but mistakes happen and will make your home look bad. Make sure to have your listing proofread for any mistakes so it will be perfect when it shows up online.

Once your listing goes online, you may want to double check how it looks on the web as well as on the most common real estate apps. Making your home look its best is important and you won’t get a second chance so take your time and make sure you get it right the first time. If you have any additional questions 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 Jens Neumann from Pixabay

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Help! My House is Under Contract but my New Home Isn’t Ready

When you are selling your current home and buying a new one, there is a lot that goes into the process. You will start with listing your home, marketing your home and finding a buyer for your home. Once you find a buyer for your home, you will then know exactly when you have to move out of your home. What happens if you haven’t found a new home to buy yet or you can’t close on the new home in time to move everything out of your old home?

There are a few different things you can do to ensure a smoother transition between houses. One option that you might consider is asking the new buyer of your home if they would consider delaying closing or letting you rent back the house for a period of time after closing. Once they start the loan process, they will have a limited amount of time to close on the home so it may not be an option for them to close later but if they have another place to live and don’t plan to move right away, they may be willing to let you stay in the home for a period of time. This is a great option to avoid having to move more than once and would be first option to explore.

If staying in the home beyond the closing date isn’t an option or the buyer isn’t willing for you to stay, you might consider a short term furnished rental or an extended stay hotel. The benefit to this is that you don’t have to worry about moving your furniture multiple times. You might also consider asking family or close friends if they have room for you for a short period of time until your new home is ready.

Even if you can’t work out any of the previous options, you can always do a short-term rental until you close on your new home. Depending on the size of the home you rent, you will likely want to store some of your furniture and other possessions that you don’t need to have with you the whole time. Moving is time consuming and a lot of work so if there are things you don’t need, put them in storage and save yourself as much time as you can.

Every situation is different so it will take some time figure out the best scenario for you. If you are struggling to come up with the right solution, talk to your real estate agent. They have helped many people move and have a wide range of resources they can tell you about that you may not have considered. If you have any additional questions 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 mohamed Hassan from Pixabay

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Selling Your Home in the Fall

We are out of the busy spring and summer housing markets and you may think that means you shouldn’t try to sell your house now. Don’t assume that to be correct. Depending on your real estate goals, fall can be a great time to sell your home.

To start with, home inventory often starts to drop off as we reach the fall season. Many sellers don’t want their home listed around the holidays so as listings expire, they are unlikely to extend the listing since the holidays are just around the corner. The lower inventory can mean your home gets much more attention than it would during Spring and Summer. Also depending on the demographics in your market, many buyers don’t want to move during the school year if they have kids, so they aren’t looking at homes now. The buyers that are shopping now are serious and motivated, so you are more likely to see an offer from the showings you have if your home is in good condition and priced appropriately.

Here are some easy tips that will ensure your home looks its best this fall.

- Maximize lighting, both indoors and out

As the days get shorter, outdoor lighting becomes more important if you want to do things outside later in the day. Fall is when many stores place their solar lighting on clearance. This can mean you can make a nice upgrade to your property with a low investment and attract some good attention from buyers interested in your home. Solar lighting makes a nice statement and can used to line your walkways, driveway, showoff trees and enhance your entrance. Utilize your hard-wired exterior lighting fixtures as well. Show off your house, even at night. Potential buyers don’t stop looking for their future home just because it is starting to get darker earlier. Leave your outdoor lights on at night until you go to bed while your home is listed so someone driving by could see your home better. An attractive peak at night will likely encourage them to come back for a showing during the day.

Maximize your interior lighting by opening all shades and blinds prior to all showings. Also, turn on all lights, both overhead and lamps. Buyers are looking for light and bright and need to be able to see the space they may call home.

- Tidy up the yard

A well-maintained yard is pivotal in the initial reaction of a potential home buyer. Do not ignore your driveways, walkways, or flower beds. Remove all dead flowers, plants, and bushes and add a fresh layer of mulch to your beds. The outside of your home is the first area that a buyer will see. They will have an immediate reaction to what they see and you want that first impression to be good. As the leaves start to fall, take care of them quickly so your yard looks nice as much as possible.

- Add seasonal color to your home

Color attracts the eye and grabs people’s attention. It isn’t winter yet so there are still lots of options to add color to your home inside and out. Pumpkins, mums and other fall plants will be attractive and inviting so use them to help your home stand out.

As you are thinking about when is the right time to sell your home, give me a call and let’s discuss how you can reach your real estate goals with my help no matter what the season. I will be happy to go over any questions you may have and help you determine your home’s value.

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 Paige Cody on Unsplash

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