5 Steps to Getting Your Home Market Ready

5 Steps for Sellers to Keep In Mind                                                                Courtesy of Lifestyle Denver

Many home sellers are finding themselves heading into the Fall and Winter months with their house still on the market. “Why?” They ask, “My home is wonderful and I love it, why doesn’t someone else? Why are we missing the bullseye?”

Denver real estate is very segmented right now with some segments selling much better than others.

Many home sellers are on their second or even third listing agent and have reduced their price along the way. They’re wondering where they go from here. Even wondering if they should remove their house from the market through the winter.

Market trends dictate that sellers need to be calculating in how they approach the sale of their house. 

Here are my top 5 suggestions for sellers to keep in mind:

1) Get a New Market Analysis – when real estate prices are trending down you’re in a very different position than when prices are flat. If you get a new market analysis every 5-8 weeks, you can discern what’s been happening with actual sales in your area. If you see prices continuing to deflate then you need to get in front of that rock that’s rolling downhill. Price reductions putting you just behind the rock won’t help you move into first place for buyers.

If the prices seem to be remaining flat, then you can adjust your price to that place and then leave it there. Pay attention to other factors that will move you into first place and keep getting a new market study every month or two. Remember, prices of homes currently available on the market don’t count when comparing prices.

Avoid “pricing entitlement” – a friend just coined that term and it fits. Sellers need to realize that their house is a commodity that goes up and down (more up than down for sure). If you’re willing to look at stocks as an investment and recognize that sometimes you sell up and sometimes you sell down, why is it so difficult to recognize that this can happen to a real estate investment too? You aren’t entitled to a price, the market will tell you what the house is worth. You can choose to sell or to hold on for a price upswing, but you can’t change market perception.

2) Consider Staging – if you’re living in your house while it’s on the market, you’d be amazed what a staging specialist can do with your own belongings to make the house pop. A fresh eye on furniture placement, some added decorative items and massive de-cluttering can completely transform a property.

If your house is vacant, you should investigate professional staging. The addition of classy furniture adds warmth and pizzaz to an empty house. Staging can add up if you’re paying a monthly fee, but there are ways to economize – like staging main rooms and leaving secondary rooms unstaged.

3) Re-Frame From the Curb – are you missing showings that were scheduled, but they skipped coming in? Then you may have to act like a movie director and look at your house from the street to see what’s going on. Be critical – act like you’re a buyer and this isn’t your house yet. What do you see? If there is chipped or peeling paint, if the front door is dirty, if the grass or shrubs are dead (or they block the front) you’ll need to give some attention to the maintenance of the exterior of your house.

Washing the windows will add sparkle that isn’t overt, but still makes a difference. Buyers like to look out through clean and clear windows. Dirty windows add a dingy feeling to an otherwise nice property. You can hire a window washer, or buy one of the spray products that screw onto a hose.

4) Paint the interior – I like colorful walls, and have several rooms in my house painted in color. That probably isn’t the best way to show a house. Neutral (with a little spark so it’s not boring) is much better. If you already have fairly neutral walls, but they haven’t been painted in over two years, then re-paint again. Fresh paint makes a world of difference in a buyer’s attitude about a house. If you have white walls, that’s just as bad as having too much color. White is harsh and cold – it doesn’t add a feeling of warmth to a house.

5) Have Your House Ready – too many sellers get preparedness fatigue after a few months on the market. They’re sick of living in a show home, tired of picking up and harassing the kids, and want to leave the bed unmade for just one day. Discipline yourself – don’t fall into this trap! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked into cluttered and unprepared homes with buyers lately. It amazes me that sellers would let their guard down when there is so much competition. Can some buyers look past this and see the house for what it is? Sure, a few can. Is that a risk you want to take?

Keep things in perspective, keep a positive attitude and remember that there’s an ass for every saddle! Your saddle just needs to be in first place on a buyer’s list.

SEE THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

Southern Hills - Why I Love It!

A community that exemplifiys the meaning of the word "Neighborhood".  How lucky I have been to be part of a community where old fashioned values are role modeled and lived by.  The friends I have made while my 3 children attended Slavens School have become my life long partners - the village that stood by each other as we saw our little darlings advance from elementary school, to the terrifying years of middle school, and separate on to various high schools, and now college.  Our bonds still hold strong as our friendships forge past the day-to-day tasks of soccer practice and homework - to easing into the empty nest years with companions by our side.

I have witnessed this community draw the wagons around countless families as they have gone thru illness, death, loss of homes, and more.  Meals delivered, homes cleaned, lawns racked and visits generously given for weeks and months on end.  The recipients of this love never felt alone in their sorrow because their community had wrapped them so tightly in their arms of support  and love.

The community boosted unbelievable support and effort to reopen the then closed school of Slavens.  The parental involvement and pursuit of a dream created a learning environment that is now being emulated throughout the city.  The men and women of Southern Hills have banded together to support members of their community when running for political office.  They generously opened up their homes for meet ups with the candidate in "the hood", distributed paperwork, made phone calls, put signs in yards and stood by their neighbor.

Various groups and annual events spontaneously formed that live on - year after year -  annual chili dinner parties on Halloween night - where the families can meet after trick or treating.  Adults eat and drink while the young ones trade their candy and admire their haul.  Book clubs where books are read and discussed about child raising while the kids all play in the back yard.  Calendar Girls where the women share a pot luck dinner and share stories of their lives as women, mothers and wives.  Races are run together, pool parties, carnivals, and more.

Southern Hills is a neighborhood where you are getting more than a house and a place to live - you are
getting involved, active, loving people that take the time to get to know, love and accept you.

The school has a mission statement for the kids - to to the right thing even when no one else is watching. The residents of this neighborhood live by that statement - and it is the most refreshing experience - to be surrounded by that kind of commitment.

Sam and Rose - Hired

They picked me!!

Sharon called a few days later to tell me that Rose had liked what I had said about finding someone that would love her home and take good care of it. You never know what you say that is going to make a difference.

After setting up a time to finalize the paperwork and such, the discussion moved to the logistics of the move. You have to understand – this was a house full of stuff……every report the girls had ever written, every doll they had ever owned, photos from first grade on up hanging on all the walls – you get the picture. Now we needed a game plan on how to turn this from being a home that is well lived in - into a home that is on the market – two very different things. Additionally, we needed to handle this process with gentle hands so as not to upset the two people that had lived in this home so long and that thought it was just wonderful the way it was.

In order to sell a home - a Realtor most go through a delicate process of getting the sellers to detach from it and to see their home through the eyes of the buyer. We do not want the buyer walking into the sellers home – but want them to walk into a home that they can see THEMSELVES in. If the home is too full of the seller’s personal memories - the buyer doesn’t connect with it. They feel almost as if they are invading private space. The sellers photo’s, nic-nacs and cute things the kids made them need to be packed away and stored. The clutter one accumulates needs to be reduced to a bare minimum so the house will feel open and inviting to the person that walks in that front door. We want them to notice the house – not the stuff in the house.

This is always a challenge – but with an older couple – it can be an even greater task. Sam and Rose were moving into a home that was half the size of the one they had. They needed to get rid of A LOT of their possessions. After choosing what they loved and wanted to keep – they invited the kids, grand-kids, nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends to come take what they wanted. Then the garage sale - followed by - donate the rest. Even though they knew this was necessary – it broke their hearts and at my next visit – I was greeted at the front door by Rose with red rimmed eyes filling with tears that were on the edge of spilling over. She was a saying goodbye to 40 years spent in a home – her history, her past.

We had tea – and talked. I listened to her share as she described to me how she felt about the transition she was going through . I tried to counsel her that although this was really difficult – in the end – she will be so glad that she did it. She will feel lighter as all my other clients have shared with me they did. It was going to be OK.

As I was leaving – she pointed out to me 3 oil paintings of her daughters hanging on the living room wall. They were from the 1970’s and were quite large. She asked me if she could leave them up or did they need to come down too. These were the last personal items to come down. “Oh Rose, you can leave those up if you want to – it’s OK”. She hugged me as if I had given her the best gift ever –and I left with a tender feeling towards Sam and Rose who were doing all they could to make this go smoothly - even though it was so tough on their hearts.

Tender moments - gently leading, Another day in the life of a Realtor.

Sam and Rose - A Listing Appointment

One day while sitting in my new and most awesome office ( I had just rearranged the furniture) I received a phone call from a raspy voiced woman named Sharon. A friend of hers had given her my name as she needed help in selling her parent’s home. She asked all the right questions and I guess I provided all the right answers because 3 days later I was walking up to the front door of a lovely ranch home owned by the equally lovely Sam and Rose.

Not only were Sam and Rose there to check out the realtor – but two of their daughters joined them as well. This was serious business and they were going to interview several agents before they decided on whom to work with. Nothing new here….and we went on with the appointment.

The house was lovely – if you like the look that was popular in 1965. It was immaculate and in great shape – just extremely dated. Rose shared with me how her brother had built the house for them, and shared with me fun stories about raising their 3 daughers there, walking them to school, their friends etc. As she walked me through the house – showing me the space – she walked both of us through memory lane and shared with me tender details of her life. She was so sweet and gentle – I really liked this woman.

We ended up seated at the kitchen table where the conversation shifted into discussions about the listing price and commission amount . This is when Sam chose to wake up and participate in the realtor interview himself. He was gruff and loud – and slow in speaking. A retired business owner used to being the boss –this was his domain to be in be responsible for. I liked Sam as well and found him fun to banter with.

The evening closed with me assuring Rose that yes indeed – I thought I could sell her home – and that I would do my best to find someone that loved it as much as she did. A handshake with Sam and the daughters – and a hug from Rose, and I was out the door.

An enjoyable evening getting a tender peek at a family in transition. A mom and dad needing more care as they aged and their health declined. The beginning of a new chapter in their life as they leave their lovely home and move into a place that was easier to take care of. But the best part for me was having the family share with me stories of the life they had in this home, and seeing the love the daughters had for their Sam and Rose. They were a beautiful example of people who had lived a full life surrounded by people who love them. An intimate glimpse of a family....what a treat.

I hoped they would pick me.

Deciding to Blog

It’s a gorgeous fall day and it promises to be a good one as I am starting it out with a coffee date with one of my favorite people – Lori. She is a very dear friend of mine whom I don’t spend nearly enough time with – and I am cherishing the thought of being in her delightful company.

As I pull up to the meeting place my heart beats a little faster as I catch a glimpse of my buddy sitting at a table on the patio – she’s here!!!

As the conversation progressed from our husbands, to our children, and our funny little stories of life – an amazing thing happens.

Let me back up a bit. Lori is the Queen of Blogging and does it professionally. She has been published in parenting magazines – been given national recognition for her blogs, and even co-authored a book! Needless to say – writing is her gift and her passion. And although I know that blogging is the new wave and that it is easier to jump on a wave sooner than later…. I have really been holding back on this endeavor.

My fear of not being a good enough writer and of not having things to share that others would want to read about held me back from just giving myself permission to just jump in and give it a try. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece….just write!

Lori was the one that inspired me and gave me the confidence to approach that wave. As she so sweetly put it, “Paulette – you have been amusing and entertaining me with stories of your clients – and the day to day things a realtor has to deal with…..why don’t you just write about that? “

Seriously? That is so simple and, not quite so scary. Uncanny how often inspiration comes from outside myself and from others who say the things that are exactly what I need to hear....

So - that is what this blog site is to be about – what it is like to be a Realtor. Get ready – it is the most wonderful profession in the world and I am about to let you in on why. Enjoy…..