Choosing a Real Estate Agent That Invests in Themselves Pays Dividends In Your Home Buying and Selling Experiences

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Getting a real estate license is easy. In most states it’s a matter of taking a class, putting in some hours of classroom time or even online and then taking a test. But the real test is out in the real world. Until there is ample experience, knowledge gained that comes from that experience and the track record developed from years of working on successful transactions (even unsuccessful ones), you won’t really know if your agent is cut out for it. As your neighbor, friend and member of the same community – I’m here to tell you what sets me apart from the rest.

A Commitment to Constant Improvement

Each year, I spend a lot of time – plenty of money and the energy that goes along with a long-term commitment to self-improvement. I invest in my team, with a commitment to gain leverage with unique industry techniques that continue to set my team and I apart. I make sure to be on top of all the latest technology, tools and innovation that ultimately translates to better business for me and top-notch results for you.

The bottom line is that you want the best home buying or selling experience possible. And I make sure I do what it takes to be equipped with those skills and knowledge necessary to make it happen.

Today’s video is coming to your from Toronto, where we’re at the latest Mike Ferry Organization conference. Mike Ferry is an international real estate coaching expert. Google him and you will find millions of hits with success stories, a long track record of innovation and solid marketing concepts. Every time I attend one of his conferences, I walk away with a newfound wealth of knowledge and immediately apply that knowledge so my clients can reap the benefits and enjoy the positive impact of best-in-class business. Not only that, at each one of these events I am met with countless other of our nation’s top-producing agents. We share and compare each others’ secrets to success and we openly discuss what works in today’s market. The Mike Ferry Organization constantly updates me on what’s new and in turn, I pass it on to my buyers and sellers; all the while remaining accountable.

Wouldn’t you want to work with someone that values what they have to offer you? Real estate is an ever-evolving industry that continues to generate new and exciting concepts. I’m proud to share that in my quest to constantly improve the way I do business, my clients also benefit and prosper.

To start getting best in class service, I invite you to call today for a customized consultation so we can talk about your home buying or selling needs.

100 Questions Every Home Seller Should Ask

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There is a lot that goes into selling a home and as you might imagine, there are equally as many things to consider before, during and after the process. That’s why we’ve developed a comprehensive list of 100 questions that every home seller must ask before the process even begins.

Now, when you sit down with us and we go over the details, you will have an upper hand with all the advanced preparedness you can imagine that comes with knowing the right questions to ask. Here, we’ve covered some of the more prevalent ones and included a link to the entire list below.

Pre-Listing Preparedness, Home Value and Timing

One of the most critical aspects of selling a home is to know whether or not the time is right. This factors into the homeowner’s personal timing and also current market performance. Important questions to ask include things like “how quickly do I want to sell?” and “do I need to consider making an interim move?” The answers will not only help you to determine the perfect time to list your home but also make for a more successful transaction overall.

Home values are key to this stage of selling a home because this is where many homeowners’ are pointed toward realistic expectations – which in turn aids them in the decision making process. Knowing the market value of your home can have a significant impact on your decision to sell.

Agents, Agency and Contracts

Like timing and market conditions, selecting the right agent is also key to successfully selling your home. Once the right agent is on board, the next thing to examine is agency and the relationship between you and the selected professional. Agency can be confusing and complex but by asking and learning the various roles each type of agency plays, you will be an informed seller that knows exactly what to expect from your agent.

Yet another vital component of selling a home entails a detailed understanding of the contracts involved. Listing agreements, agency disclosures, seller and lead-based paint disclosures – are just a few of the many documents you may need to review or sign. To ask “what are the contingencies I can expect to see on a typical offer?” or even inquiring about the timing between an accepted offer and the required inspection period will help you gain an edge.

Advertising, Marketing and Offers

When you set out to sell your home do you know how it will be marketed? How do you feel about open houses? What are the statistics for open houses in your area and are they effective? Something you will hear time and again through many sources is the subject of preparing your home for sale. You will be advised to neutralize the décor, remove clutter, make any necessary repairs and so much more. Throughout doing all these things there will be some expenses incurred – so ask yourself if you are ready to make that investment to get your home sold.

Finally, when you do have an offer or more than one comes in – what do you need to do next? What is a reasonable counter offer without putting off the prospective buyer? In today’s market one thing occurring in many areas is the issue of multiple offers. If that does happen, have you considered how you might handle it? Our list of 100 questions will share the essentials of these and many more concerns that you may not even realize you ought to consider.

Finances and Closing

Oftentimes people are selling a home that they have lived in for quite some time, and as a result they are out of touch with today’s marketplace. An issue that may come to the surface is present day mortgage and finance practices. You want to ask things about the HUD-1 Statement, tax proration and escrow. Also important to know are lending guidelines, for example the fact that most sellers today are in the strong position to request or require a mortgage pre-approval letter with an offer. You will also benefit from knowledge about closing documentation to expect on closing day.

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Remember, the number one question that is asked by sellers is “When is the best time to sell my home?” and the answer is simply, “When you are ready.” Though there is the common misconception that homes do not sell during year’s colder months, sellers should bear in mind there is plenty of activity in the market year round. There are indeed fewer buyers out there but equally, there are fewer homes on the market, leaving you less selling completion to worry about.

In our region alone we have had a ten percent increase in sales year over year despite a somewhat depressed market. The news is good and if you have been on the fence about selling your home, this may be the perfect time to talk to us and ask that all-important question, “Can you sell my home for top dollar, in the least amount of time and without any hassles?”

Click Here for the full list of 100 Questions Sellers Should Ask >>

Brush Up the Look of Your Front Steps

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Curb appeal gets buyers in the door.  If you want to spruce up the front of your home without spending a lot of money, consider painting your front steps.  Typically choose darker colors to hide wear and tear.  Colors from nature and from the same family are a great choice for a craftsman-style home.  With other styles of architecture choose cool gray because it compliments every color and even when it gets dirty, it maintains its look.

Home Inspections; a Critical Piece of the Home Buying Puzzle

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Buying a home is undoubtedly the most expensive purchase of most people’s lives and it goes without saying that you should proceed carefully and in a way so as to make good decisions. One very important part of making a good decision on buying a home is getting a full-blown home inspection of the property.

We’ve all seen the nightmare stories on television where a homeowner that neglected to have a home inspection done, ends up with a huge money pit. The easiest way to combat that risk is to get a thorough check-through by a licensed home inspector.

Though inspectors are required by State licensing boards to maintain licenses and stay up-to-date on their education, there are bad inspectors out there that fail to properly check a home. It’s important that you select a good inspector. One great resource is your real estate agent because they have worked with countless other buyers and they usually have a list of preferred vendors they recommend.

Common Issues That Come Up in Home Inspections

As you can imagine, many things can come up as a professional goes through each aspect of your home’s function, structure and systems. Some of the more common issues that arise include problems with the home’s electrical panel, some circuits with blown fuses, a circuit breaker with problems that could cause a fire hazard.

Sometimes chimney problems come up too that might not be visible to the layperson. Anything from cracks in the chimney, gaps that could contribute to heat and cooling loss or issues with the roof – all come up with a thorough inspection.

Buyers Learn a Lot About Their Home During an Inspection

Probably the most overlooked benefit of a home inspection is the ability for buyers to get a walkthrough with the inspector and see how everything functions. While the inspector is looking over everything, the buyer will be able to learn how to operate things in the house plus get an overview on basic home systems.

The Housing Market Finds Its Strength

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The real estate market is certainly gaining strength. According to national year-end reports, we’re clearly seeing a turnaround. One sign is the days it takes for a home to sell is down by 29.6% nationally over the previous year. Top that off with a shift in the amount of inventory—from an overabundance to an actual shortfall of homes available for buyers—and you can see why the housing market has strengthened. The inventory shift from too many homes on the market to a shortfall was due to two main reasons: investors purchasing foreclosures and people taking advantage of interest rates that hovered at record lows during 2012. These factors, as well as a lack of new construction, are leading the country to a turnaround in real estate. We’re seeing these factors in many markets across the U.S.  

What’s happening locally in our region is all very positive. Our actual number of transactions was 113 sales—an 11.15 % increase over last year. That’s a big increase. In State College, home sales were up 17% which means the largest school district within our region is doing as well as or better than the rest of the region. The days a home is on the market is down a medium of 40% in our region compared to 29.6% nationally, so homes are selling much more rapidly in State College than last year. We’re also shifting from an absolute buyers’ market to a much more balanced market which is healthier for both buyers and sellers.

Keep in mind that interest rates are still low, but the rates won’t last forever. These rates have helped make home-buying more affordable. We’re also seeing “shovels turning” with new construction making a comeback so that gives buyers another option.  

There’s reason to be cheerful in 2013. We’re starting the year off right with an overall confidence in the real estate market that we haven’t seen in the last couple of years. The mood has changed—and it’s great!  

If you’re interested in buying or selling your home, contact me today at 814.234.4000 or christurleykbb@comcast.net. I would be happy to assist you.

Weed Out Bad Landscaping To Make a Great First Impression

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Think of the outside of your home as a cover of a book.  When you look at a book, it’s the cover that pulls you in and makes you want to turn the pages and read it.  The same is true of selling your property because great curb appeal makes a buyer want to see more.   Remember, you only have a few seconds to make that first impression and the last thing you want is unkempt trees, shrubs and flower beds to greet prospective buyers.  An attractive, well-maintained landscape will only increase the value of your home.
 
I met with the owner of a top landscape maintenance company to get some ideas to enhance the outside of your home and, ultimately, increase the salability of your property.  To make the best first impression, homeowners can take simple steps that make a big difference—clean up the lawn, trees and shrubs and garden beds.  Keep in mind that you can tackle these sure-fire tips and tricks on your own.
 
To spruce up your lawn, use a lawn-treatment application to green up the lawn and kill any weeds.  It may take time for the treatment to work, so start on this step right away, because even if you can only get one application complete, it will make a big difference.  Keep the lawn mowed—and mow it properly.  To do so, ensure the mower’s blade is sharp and don’t leave clippings on the ground, which will only turn brown and get dragged into your home.  These two steps will give your lawn a clean look.  For times when you just can’t get around to mowing the lawn, have a name of a lawn service provider on hand so they can take care of it at short notice.
   
When it comes to trees and shrubs, remember they are there to accent the design and architecture of your home, not to cover it up, so be sure the shrubs do not grow against the house or over walkways.  Elevate the trees and be sure there are no broken or hanging limbs.  Nothing screams neglect more than a bunch of dead branches.
 
Last, clear the garden beds out by getting rid of leaves and weeds then top them off with a fresh covering of mulch, which will provide an attractive contrast between the beds and the lawn, as well as make the plants pop.  Mulch is easy to apply and relatively inexpensive.  

From my experience landscaping matters to the client.  Order versus disarray wins every time, so don’t wait until the last minute to clean up your landscaping to help you get top dollar for your biggest investment.  
If you are interested in buying or selling your home, contact me today at 814.234.4000 or christurleykbb@comcast.net.  I would be happy to assist you.

Staging a Home Can Shave Off Weeks From the Time On Market and Generate More Offers

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Selling a home involves a lot of steps and it begins way in advance of when the home actually makes it to the MLS. You have to make sure the home is priced right, has an active marketing plan associated with it catered to your specific market and you need the backing and support of a strong real estate agent.

But one very important component of selling a home is presenting it to the buying public in a way that solicits offers. While you could argue that there is no reason to adjust the way you may live, to remove extra things from the home or even update the color schemes in the home – the truth is that buyers see things in an entirely different light.

I met with my top stager to get some ideas, tips and tricks to share with you on how you can effectively stage your home without breaking the bank. Keep in mind that the amount you spend toward staging your home usually comes back two-fold when the home sells.

What Exactly Is Staging?

In the words of one of the best stagers in our area, staging is making a house “sale ready” since a house for selling and a house for living is usually not the same thing. With the goal of making the home as attractive as possible for all buyers, the idea is that staging will quickly result in one or more offers and usually in as much as half the time of non-staged homes.

Is It Worth It To Spend Money When I’m Selling Anyway?

A lot of homeowners ask whether they should put any more money into the home when they are selling it. The truth is that staging does not cost a lot at all. Most of the changes are cosmetic and involve things like a simple coat of paint to bring in some neutral color – or rearranging furniture to show off more of the home’s features.

What Are Some Things I Can Do To Stage My Home?

The easiest way to prepare your home for sale is to spend a few days cleaning, de-cluttering and de-personalizing the space. Buyers need to see the home for what it is and be able to imagine living in the space. If distracted by personal items such as family photos, overflowing closets or furniture placement that hide major features of the home, their interest may fade.

Simple actions like putting away children’s artwork, leaving the fridge free of any personal items, removing 2/3 of the contents in closets and cleaning the home from top to bottom are sometimes all it takes to present a home attractively. Homeowners should also pay attention to curb appeal, particularly because it will be the first impression made upon prospective buyers. Taking action to clear up outdated and unkempt trees, bushes and shrubs – as well as making the entryway warm and inviting are sure-fire ways to pull buyers in and keep them interested.

The most important advice to keep in mind is that if you are considering selling your home – even if a while down the road – start thinking from the mindset of a seller. If making any updates, consider doing them in a neutral way so that when you do list, buyers are attracted to the “blank canvas” aspect of the home. Start making decisions about extra belongings and begin to de-clutter on a large scale.
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For a personalized walk-through of your home to determine what needs to be done before you list, contact me today – I’d be happy to assist you!