Archive for the 'For Sellers' Category
If a lockbox could talk – they would probably have a lot to say for themselves. They know that they are more than just a pretty face adorning your front door. They understand that most sellers don’t fully appreciate them, but they don’t mind. They know that if you understood what they do -you appreciate them more. After all – they look like a simple mechanical device – but a lock box is much more than that. A lock box increases the flow of buyers through your home and it is an indication to agents and buyers that you are serious about selling your home.
Nothing is more irritating to a busy buyers agent who has multiple showing tours every day than finding a notation that they have to go and pick up keys at the brokerage – and return them once they are done. This wastes an enormous amount of time and gasoline and throws a major monkey wrench into a carefully planned tour that may have taken a couple of hours to set up. Unless the home is a must-see, if the schedule is tight – I will drop the home from my tour. Does that sound harsh? It isn’t.
Picking up keys turns a process that should involve one trip into three trips – which includes parking, meters, and perhaps a parking structure with an elevator. It is a needless waste of time, money and gasoline.
Why do sellers and agents shoot themselves in the foot like this? Privacy should not be an issue because showings are subject to appointments. Security shouldn’t be glitch either since the new lockboxes require a “key” that licensed agents pay a pretty penny for. So why create barriers for showings for no good reason?
There are reasons why some agents prefer to have the keys picked up at the brokerage. I’ve never heard any that actually hold water and for the most part the “real” reasons are for the benefit of the agent and the brokerage – not the seller. Be skeptical of an agent who really wants to “control” the listing in this way. An exception to this rule would be a high end property that has many valuables on the premises. In that case the showings might have to be accompanied – and for good reason. But that is the rare exception to the rule.
A seller might get away with this in a few parts of our market where inventory isn’t that soft. But I’m seeing this in places where theres 14 months of overhang. It just seems surreal that an agent or seller would erect roadblocks to showings when there is enough competing inventory out there to sink the Titanic.
So use a lockbox – and be kind to it. You lockbox knows its job – and they have a tremendous work ethic – they are on duty 24/7 for you until your home is sold.
© 2011 – Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesterview.com – All rights reserved.
One of the strange ironies of home selling is that paint is one of the easiest changes a home buyer can make to personalize a home. Nevertheless, I have seen the wrong paint color become an insurmountable obstacle for many potential buyers. The home is perfect in every way for this buyer – all it needs is a new paint color – but the buyer moves on. Why is that. Marie Graham – Ninja Stager Extraordinaire – explains why this is. If you are selling your home, and your agent or stager suggests painting – take that suggestion to heart. How you sell a home is not how you live in a home. You are creating a depersonalized space with a neutral palate that allow buyers to mentally move in. – Ruthmarie G. Hicks..
Why Color Sells….by Marie Graham
We’ve all heard that saying…but do you know why?
More importantly, do you want know how it can help sell your house?
There are three parts to the equation, the first being that the eye is drawn to color and light. Always, and immediately.
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Crystal Hawkins Syska
The Time: Wednesday July 6 – 6:30-8:30 PM
The Place: Keller Williams NY Realty - 120 Bloomingdale Rd. Suite #101 – White Plains NY
The Topic: Short Sale and Foreclosure Alternatives:
The Syska Group at Keller Williams – headed by the amazing Crystal Hawkins Syska is there to help Westchester NY home owners navigate the short sale maze and avoid foreclosure. Tomorrow she and her group are holding a seminar called Short Sale and Foreclosure Alternatives. This is a free seminar and is something that distressed sellers should not miss. Among the topics being discussed is the Emergency Homeowners Loan Program. This program offered by HUD can provide up to $50,000 or 24 consecutive months of mortgage payments to qualified homeowners.
Crystal discusses the issues confronting distressed home owners head on in a transparent and upfront way. She is a wealth of information and has helped many families through short sales allowing them to avoid foreclosure. If you need help – attending this meeting would be one of the best things you can do for yourself!
For more information
The Syska Group
Phone: 914-309-2851
Email: [email protected]
© 2011 – Ruthmarie G. Hicks – http://thewestchesterview.com – All rights reserved.
A few days ago I “stole” some time to indulge in a walk and photo-session at the Rockefeller Preserve. Fortunately, I brought my telephoto lens…and as luck would have it – I was able to capture several shots of this new mom and her brood of ducklings. Seriously, I could almost just see her “smiling” with pride! The ducklings were all over the place floating around on the water like tiny corks. They were bobbing their heads in the water – with their tail feathers in the air – as Mom looked on watchfully.
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When listing your Westchester NY home for sale - choosing a good listing agent is critical. One issue that you should consider in the selection is what kind of photographs they put into the MLS. Seriously, I am often shocked at what many agents seem to think is an acceptable presentation. Buyers are pouring over public facing versions of the MLS. Most will cherry pick the homes with the best photos and discard the rest. With many homes for sale at this time, the process of elimination begins on line. Poor photography means fewer showings and less offers. Its really that simple.
Photos should be warm – inviting and should include neighborhood photos so that buyers that are not purely local can get a feel for the area before even getting in their car.
Exteriors need to have curb appeal. I took these three pictures in Larchmont NY. One was of a house (not my listing) and the other two give the feel of the area immediately surrounding the home. Make no mistake – when listing your home a picture really is worth 1000 words…
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Spring was late this year and with all the rain that we have had – everyone is eager to get some sunshine on their faces and get outside. It was a long and difficult winter and seeing the sun again is such a treat. I don’t know about anyone else, but my outdoor space could use some remedial help. Whether you are selling your home or just looking to ENJOY your home more – these post from Marie Graham – my Ninja Stager friend – will give you inspiration and direction…
By Marie Graham – of The Refreshed Home
FINALLY! Spring has enthusiastically, colorfully, and jubilantly arrived! After an interminable winter, we are OH-SO ready to get back outside, and enjoy our friends, family and property.
But is your space ready for all your big plans?
If some updates are in your future, here is the first of 3 parts on what to consider before you even THINK of setting foot in an outdoor living store.
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Last Saturday I was busy prepping a property for listing. The owner no is no longer local – so after supervising the sanding and refinishing of floors, painting and the rehab of a bathroom – I went in with a cleaning lady complete my vacuum cleaning and other cleaning supplies since the home is now empty. These are some of the activities that can and often are, associated with listing a home.
At some point during the process, I got a phone call. I was expecting a couple of calls and stupidly did not notice that it was an 800 number. It was a representative from what we refer to as a “third-party-site.” Such a site is basically a web site with a fairly good “mousetrap” that somehow convinces the unsuspecting public to logon and give up their name, email address and perhaps even their phone number. Very often the site promises to find the unsuspecting buyer or seller an agent that is an area “expert” who supposedly knows the location they are interested in the inside and out. What the prospective buyer or seller doesn’t realize is that most (but not all) of these sites are simply mills that collect buyer and seller information and “sell” the information for an agent willing or desperate enough to give up enough of their commission to satisfy what appears to be an insatiable appetite.
Real estate agents are middle men…
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Crystal Hawkins-Syska
The Syska Group specializes in what are now known as “short sales.” The public has been (rightfully) confused as to the nature of short sales and what the implications are for selling their homes short. Distressed homeowners who owe more on their homes than the house is actually worth -fall into this category. When you are in this situation it is easy to want to put your head in the sand and just hope for the best. That’s the worst thing you can do. Just remember, knowledge is power! If you are “underwater” on your home loan this is a seminar that you can’t afford to miss. If you are a buyer wondering if purchasing a short sale is the right move for you – this is also a great seminar.
Distressed sellers in Westchester need to realize that there are agents and then there are specialists. This type of sale is nothing to mess around with. This type of seller needs an agent or team that has done this before and preferably works this market all the time. The reason is simple – the rules are changing daily and your financial future depends on having a listing agent that keeps on top of this particular market on a daily basis.
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If you are thinking of moving or just cleaning out the excess – spring is a great time to get a fresh start on your personal space.
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One of the biggest bones of contention for Westchester NY home buyers is old dirty carpeting – particularly the wall-to-wall variety. It makes a home look dated, dirty and makes the buyer wonder what is underneath that eyesore. As an agent I actively encourage my sellers to take the time and expense to pull up those carpets and refinish the hardwood – if that’s what lies beneath. In the long haul the initial expense brings great rewards and actually saves money But don’t listen to me – Listen as well to Marie Graham - an expert in staged homes.
From Marie Graham:
In most any room, walls- all vertical surfaces, including windows-make up the largest surface area, followed by floors. Depending on the quality of the product and wear it’s received, 8 to 10 years is an expected life span for most broadloom.
WHYOHWHYOHWHY do sellers wring their hands, whine and gnash their teeth when the Realtor and Stager suggest replacing carpet from the last millenium?
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If a lockbox could talk – they would probably have a lot to say for themselves. They know that they are more than just a pretty face adorning your front door. They understand that most sellers don’t fully appreciate them, but they don’t mind. They know that if you understood what they do -you appreciate them more. After all – they look like a simple mechanical device – but a lock box is much more than that. A lock box increases the flow of buyers through your home and it is an indication to agents and buyers that you are serious about selling your home.
