“To Stage or Not to Stage? That is the Question”

by Chuck Roper 20. January 2017 05:52

Sellers often ask me if there is a benefit to staging their home.  The answer is a resounding YES!  Research from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and our “real world” local experience is indisputable: staging adds value, reduces the time on market and produces a positive ROI.   Here are the 10 Reasons to Stage Your Home for selling:

1.       You will make more money.   A 2015 NAR survey found the majority of buyers were more likely to offer higher prices for a staged home compared to a similar home.

2.       Your home will sell faster.  Professionally staged homes spent 72% less time on the market, according to a survey from the Real Estate Staging Association.

3.       Buyers can visualize themselves in the home.  81% of buyers it was easier to visualize the staged property as their future home.   

4.       Your online photos will look better.  Over 95% of home buyers look online.  This is where you make your first impression and where potential buyers decide whether to make an appointment.  Professional staged homes stand out and generate more buyer interest. 

5.       Staging helps defuse other property flaws.  2015 NAR survey revealed 28% of buyers viewing a staged home overlook other property faults.  The eye is naturally drawn to clean, well-appointed furnishings and away from minor imperfections.

6.       Personal photos and memorability distract your buyer from viewing the home.  Remember, you are trying to help a buyer see themselves living in this property, not as a guest amidst your family’s personal life story.

7.       The cost of staging is less than your first price reduction.  Some sellers will say “I’ll give it a try without staging and then if it doesn’t sell, I’ll stage it.”  This is a huge mistake.  Days on market tick on.  By the time you have determined you need to stage, your best prospects have already seen your home and formed their opinion.   You are looking at a price reduction just to attract new interest.

8.       Sellers are not objective about their own homes.  The chinoiserie fabric you selected to match the floral chintz may be your pride and joy, but the buyer may not share your design style.  A professional stager will select a neutral pallet which appeals to a broad range of prospective buyers.

9.       You will save time and reduce your anxiety.  Selling your home can be stressful and time consuming.  A professional stager will manage the process for you so that you can devote your energy into your new home.

10.   Your Realtor will support you 100%.  Real estate professionals know that staged homes attract higher offers and faster sales.  We are delighted to help facilitate the process, make appointments for you, meet painters or handyman at your home and help you arrange an estate sale.

Janet Horlacher

Principal

Janet McAfee Inc.

(Property in photograph is 9044 Clayton Road, professionally staged by Property Enhancements LLC)

Perseverance and Passion

by Chuck Roper 17. January 2017 07:30

 

Have you ever heard a graduation speaker declare "follow your passion and you will be successful?"  What if you don't know your passion?  What if you are just starting out, trying to figure out your career path and you don't know your "passion?"  I think some things in life are not always "love at first sight."  And, I think selling real estate is not necessarily "love at first sight."  

If you speak with successful Realtors, many will tell you that it took time and perseverance to excel.  Moreover, they did not become passionate about selling real estate until they had stuck with it, worked really hard and begun to see the fruits of their labor.  The passion came after the hard work.  I believe the real estate profession is about perseverance.  Successful Realtors are committed every day; they keep abreast of market activity; they touch base with their clients regularly and they are passionate about helping their clients. These are the Realtors who succeed and love their job.  They become passionate about their job when they see the benefits of their hard work and the lives they have touched.

I believe real estate is one of the most rewarding careers you can choose.  It requires a great deal of perseverance.  Perseverance is the key ingredient to success and self fulfillment.

- Janet

Principal, Janet McAfee Real Estate

Coming Together

by Chuck Roper 11. November 2016 06:01

In the aftermath of this divisive election, I am heartened to hear politician’s new rhetoric of “coming together” and “finding common ground.”  I say, “Isn’t this what Realtors do every day?”  Look no further than how we Realtors find common ground every time we negotiate a sales contract; how we cooperate with our fellow Realtors for every showing, every feedback request and every agent open house.  Our Duty to Cooperate is spelled out in the Realtor Code of Ethics.   We don’t make false or misleading statements about other real estate professionals and we do not attempt to gain unfair advantage over competitors.  Along with honesty, competency and high integrity, cooperation lay at the heart of our industry.  The Code states: “cooperation promotes the best interests of those who utilize our services.”

If any person is having trouble coming together in this season of change, look no further than the 1.2 million Realtors in the United States, where cooperation is our middle name.  

-Janet
 Principal
 Janet McAfee Real Estate 

Tags: , ,

General

Left Digit in Sale Price Affects Home Buyers Most

by Chuck Roper 31. October 2016 06:41

A recent study published by the Journal of Housing Research concluded the best technique for pricing a home is setting the asking price just below a round number.  The study went on to say that this strategy of “just below” pricing yielded a selling price 2.5 to 3 percent higher compared with a “rounded price.”  The example given is a home listed at $199,000 yielded a sale price $5,000 to $6,000 higher than one listed for $200,000.  The study was conducted among 1,000 buyers in Virginia considering a pool of 370,000 listings.

Do you agree or disagree?  Some believe this is old school thinking.  “We don’t price homes like cans of soup on the grocery shelf, commented a Realtor.  Others believe this is a good strategy because home buyers are influenced by a lower first digit.  What is your experience?

-Janet
 Principal 
 Janet McAfee Real Estate 

Tags: ,

General

Negotiating Your Client's Interests

by Chuck Roper 18. October 2016 06:16

I attended a training class on the topic of negotiation. I heard a wonderful story which demonstrates why we as agents should look for common interests (not just our client’s position) when negotiating contracts and building inspections.  Here’s the story:

“A mother walked into her kitchen to find her 2 children screaming and fighting over the last orange.  Exasperated, she grabbed the orange, sliced it in half and gave each child half the orange.  Immediately upon doing so, the children began crying and screaming even louder.  Bewildered by this, she asked her children what’s the matter now?  The first child said she needed the pulp of one orange to complete her science project.  The second child explained he needed the juice of one orange for his brownie recipe.”

The mother had only understood each child’s position – “I want the orange.”  Had the mother understood each child’s interest in obtaining the orange, each child would get what each child needed.  If we look deeper than just our client’s position and figure out their interest in wanting something, we may find a “win-win” solution.

-Janet Horlacher
 Principal 
 Janet McAfee Real Estate 

Tags: , , ,

General | General | Selling Your Home | Selling Your Home

Completing The Seller's Disclosure

by Chuck Roper 28. September 2016 04:24



The first page of the Seller’s Disclosure Statement asks for Subdivision or Condominium association information and contacts.   Please take the time to review and remind the sellers to answer all of the questions.

-Mary Beth Gold
Closing Manager 

 

Tags:

General | Selling Your Home

Documenting Home Improvements

by Chuck Roper 27. September 2016 08:08


As a listing agent, pre-empt last minute issues by recommending that the seller request detailed invoices and lien waivers from contractors reflecting repairs performed. Collect the paid invoices and lien waivers a week before closing whenever possible.  Often, by collecting detailed receipts early, the parties will be alerted to any repair items accidentally overlooked or misunderstood, and contractors may be scheduled for another visit prior to closing.  It is rare for a lender to approve last minute credits from sellers to buyers, due to tightened lender guidelines and policies, so have your contractors available and avoid some walk-through woes.

-Cathy Noll
Vice President/Broker 

Tags: ,

General | Selling Your Home

10 Things that Make an Impression

by Chuck Roper 21. September 2016 11:26

1. Being on time
2. Work ethic
3. Effort
4. Body language
5. Energy
6. Attitude
7. Passion
8. Being coachable
9. Doing extra
10. Being prepared

-Mike Adkins
 Relocation Director 

Tags:

General | Success Begins Here

Pool Tips For Fall

by Chuck Roper 21. September 2016 11:13


If you are listing a property with a pool now, photograph the pool while the weather cooperates, even if the home’s interior is not yet ready for shooting.  Suggest that the sellers direct their pool company to perform a brief maintenance check, making suggested repairs and delineating ongoing maintenance in writing, when the pool is closed in autumn.  Most buyers will contact the pool service company listed in the disclosure for information on the pool, so a written report will insure that all parties are literally ‘on the same page’ when the winter winds begin to blow! 

-Cathy Noll
 Vice President/Broker

Tags:

General | Seasonal Preparations

The Importance Of A Boundary and Improvement Survey

by Chuck Roper 20. September 2016 05:30

Encourage your buyers to purchase a Boundary and Improvement (Stake) Survey. The survey locates all boundaries, improvements, easements, encroachments, and building lines, if applicable.  The information content of the stake survey is invaluable to identify defects and without an accurate survey, title companies will not give full survey coverage.

-Mary Beth Gold
 Closing Manager 

Tags:

General | Selling Your Home

TextBox

Tag cloud