Sunday, November 6, 2011

Holiday Real Estate Marketing

Around holiday time, people’s minds are family, time off, gifts, and baking. But, are their minds on buying and selling real estate ? And, should you keep your house on the market, or buy a house in real estate, throughout the holiday seasons?  While the answer varies for different sellers depending upon their needs, the basic response is the same:

If your house isn’t on the market, it definitely will not sell.

The holiday real estate market is a sketchy one and doing business at this time of year needs to be thought out thoroughly. Questions will arise, such as “should we keep our house on the market or wait and relist after the New Year?” or “Can we put up our Christmas tree while our house is on the market?” Is the holiday real estate market worthwhile?


Believe it or not, this can be a great time to sell a home, especially this year (2010-11) as consumers look to take advantage of current low interest rates. In general, buyers tend to be more serious and have extra time together to look at houses at this time of year.

By leaving your house on the market through the holidays, you are likely to attract a more motivated buyer. Look at it this way: If people are out house hunting on a Saturday in December when they could be holiday shopping or sipping eggnog by the fire, it’s most likely because they are serious about buying a house. During this time, you can rest assured that you aren’t going to be showcasing your home for the tire-kickers and leisurely lookers that tend to come out in the spring.

Add that to the fact that if everyone else takes their home off the market, inventory will be reduced and you have a greater chance of finding the buyer who will purchase your home.

If you do choose to keep your house on the holiday real estate market, you might be wondering how much decorating is acceptable. Sellers with their homes on the market during the holiday season shouldn’t feel the need to give up their holiday traditions. In fact, sellers should not forgo decorating their homes for the holiday. People expect at least some decorations. Plus, they add warmth to a home.

Courtesy:  http://www.realestatebriefings.com/about/

Saturday, June 25, 2011

What's Hot (& What's NOT) in Preparing a Home to Sell


 Cynthia Black, HomeStaging by Cynthia, Inc. in KCMO
 "Over 4,500 Homes Staged...since 1999!"
 
To help a home appeal to as many buyers as possible, keep the following tips in mind when preparing a home for the market:
 
HOT: Wall paint in muted and soft colors.
          NOT: Bold faux finishes and dated wallpaper.
 
HOT: A few personal photos in matching frames in built-in bookshelves.
          NOT: Gallery walls...with many nail holes.
 
HOT: Fresh carpet.
          NOT: Taking a wait-until-after-we-move-out approach.
 
HOT: Neutral, clean smell throughout the house.
          NOT: Making buyers ask, "What are they trying to cover up with all of the Plug-Ins?"
 
HOT: A dining room with table and chairs.
          NOT: A dining room being used as an office or toy room.
 
HOT: Storage space in the lower level.
          NOT: Overflowing bedroom closets.
 
HOT: College alumni decals on a vehicle.
          NOT: Revealing college affiliations at the front door and throughout the home.
 
HOT: Family pets that bring us joy.
          NOT: Pet beds and litter boxes in bedrooms. 
 
HOT: A checkmark by every item on the "honey-do" list.
          NOT: Visible wear and tear when competing with newer listings.
 
HOT: An exercise area in the lower level.
          NOT: Exercise equipment in the master bedroom or main-floor living spaces.
 
HOT: Buyers exclaiming how everything is clean and pretty.
          NOT: Buyers muttering, "Didn't they know we were coming?" 
 
HOT: A properly Staged home that supports the home's price by looking expensive and beautiful.
          NOT: Leaving behind furniture not good enough for the new home, complete with dusty and dated accessories.
 
Because I arrive to start physically moving things around, listings can go from "blah" to "beautiful" often within just two hours!  Let me know how I can make your life easier, working with what a seller already owns!
 
Cynthia Black (aka “The House Whisperer”)
HomeStaging by Cynthia, Inc.
816-444-5352