Are your listing photos killing the sale of your house? Did you know over 90% of buyers will start their search online and 83% of buyers rated photos as the most useful website feature? Which means buyers are weeding out the houses they don’t want to see even before they go out with an agent. All based on photos. I am constantly amazed at the bad photos when looking at our MLS – kitchens with cluttered countertops and refrigerators covered with papers, bedrooms littered with clothes & toys and unmade beds, heavy curtains suffocating windows, living rooms with too much furniture and too many decorations, etc. Not to mention the blurry photos, shots of useless areas like hallways, camera flash back from windows and mirrors, and shooting from bad angles. My advice? If you truly want to sell your home, you should be preparing the house before photos are taken. Clean up, de-clutter, remove excess furniture, and yes, get all that stuff off of your refrigerator & countertops! You also should double check how the photos look online and ask your agent to re-take anything you think looks bad. Do not underestimate the power of photography! If you are looking for an agent to give you straight advice on prepping your property for sale, then give me a call! 603-526-4116, donna@donnaforest.com, www.donnaforest.comStatistics from the National Association of REALTORS® 2014 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers
Known for service, trusted for results – Coldwell Banker Milestone Real Estate.
There are common mistakes that many sellers make when they go to sell their house. As a professional with over 20 years of selling experience, here are my top 5 picks to avoid.
- Overpricing. It’s the kiss of death in a buyers’ market. Be realistic in your pricing and listen to the advice of your Realtor.
- Not getting the house ready to sell. Don’t expect to sell if you have done nothing to prepare it for the market. De-clutter, update, paint, repair, landscaping; the list goes on. Ask your Realtor what you need to do before putting it on the market.
- Being emotionally attached. Yes, your house is your home – except for when it goes on the market. Time to switch gears and understand that it has become a commodity that is competing with other properties for a buyer.
- Not Trusting Your Realtor. Unless you have a good reason to believe otherwise, you should listen to and solicit whatever advice your agent can give you. They are the ones who do this for a living day in and day out – take advantage of their knowledge.
- Ignoring Lowball Offers. Don’t be insulated if you get a low offer. Set emotions aside and view this as a starting point to getting your house sold.
Visit my website for other useful tips at www.DonnaForest.com. 603-526-4116
Known for service, trusted for results – Coldwell Banker Milestone Real Estate.
First impressions count! I’ve seen buyers pull up to a house and refuse to go in because the outside held no appeal. The exterior of your home should serve as a snapshot of what buyers will see when they go inside. Here are 7 affordable ways to spruce up your curb appeal:
- Redo the front door with fresh paint and new hardware.
- Replace old exterior light fixtures.
- Patch and reseal the driveway.
- Trim trees and bushes.
- Wash dirt off sidewalks, driveways, decks, etc.
- Lay mulch down for a fresh appearance to landscaping.
- Plant flowers along the walkway/place container plants by front door.
These simple but effective steps will go a long way to improving curb appeal. Contact me if you would like expert advice on getting your home ready to sell. donna@donnaforest.com, www.donnaforest.com, 603-526-4116
For most people, selling their home is an emotional experience. Many memories are tied up in a house. As your house goes on the market, you need to bear in mind an important thing – your home has just become a commodity. Your goal is to have other buyers see it as their potential home. As difficult as it sounds, failure to make this emotional disconnect can cost you buyers. Part of preparing a house for sale is to depersonalize it by removing family photos, trophies, knick-knacks, etc. This allows buyers to visualize themselves in the space without being distracted. A house with personality is great – just try to keep the “person” out of it. For more selling tips, visit my website www.DonnaForest.com. Call me if you want to put my 20 years of experience to work for you! 603-526-4116, donna@donnaforest.com
As we get into December, it seems like every agent is asked the same question from their sellers. Should I keep my house on the market over the winter? There are pros and cons, however, unless you absolutely do not want to move in the winter, I believe it usually is best to keep your house for sale. Yes, there are fewer buyers out looking, but these buyers are serious and motivated. Also, at this time of year, there is less inventory meaning less competition for your property. During the holidays, there are a number of people coming back home to visit family – who may decide to start their house hunt now. If your house is not on the market, it for sure will not sell. It only takes one buyer to sell a home – you don’t want to miss them by not having your home available to be shown. Looking for an experienced agent? Contact me and put my 20 years of knowledge to work for you - Donna Forest 603-526-4116, www.donnaforest.com, donna@donnaforest.com.
Now that winter is here, it brings a new set of challenges for sellers. In order to keep your home in showing condition, here are a few common sense tips to follow.
- Keep your driveway plowed and entryways clear.
- Keep walkways and stairs clear of snow and ice.
- Don’t let snow pile up on the roof and decks. At some point, too much snow on the roof can cause ice dams, leaks, and even structural failure. The same goes with decks.
- Keep a vacant house heated to at least 50 degrees. A warm house holds more appeal and will allow buyers to take their time looking. Buyers will rush through cold homes and it leaves a negative impression. If you are an absentee seller, set up fuel for automatic delivery.
- Have a good map to show where your septic system is. If your house goes under contract and a septic inspection is scheduled, it will speed along the process.
- Have a backup plan for extended power outages. This holds especially true for absentee sellers. Having the power out for even a day can cause pipes to freeze.
If you are looking for an experienced REALTOR® with the common sense to help sell your house in any season, then give me a call! 603-526-4116, donna@donnaforest.com, www.donnaforest.com
Known for service, trusted for results – Coldwell Banker Milestone Real Estate.
Getting a home under contract can sometimes be challenging enough. However, it’s still not time to break out the champagne once it happens. According to a survey of over 4000 REALTORS® by the National Association of REALTORS® in September 2014, about 15% of pending sales didn’t close as the buyers couldn’t obtain financing, about 3% did not close due to appraisal issues, and another 3-4% didn’t close due to home inspection issues. So what can you do? Be mentally prepared that most likely there will be hurdles to overcome and the closing date may not be concrete. Have a home inspection prior to putting your house on the market and make needed repairs so you can avoid post-contract negotiations or worse, giving the buyers reason to walk from the contract. Be aware that tighter lending regulations can slow the process - anything from the house not appraising to last minute negotiations that create delays due to new lending rules. It’s a complex process and that’s why you need a knowledgeable REALTOR® to help navigate your way to a successful closing. Contact me and put my 20 years of experience to work for you! 603-526-4116, www.donnaforest.com, donna@donnaforest.com
You’ll be moving in the right direction with Coldwell Banker Milestone Real Estate.
There are many elements that combine to make a successful sale. One that you have control over is the showing of your house. Here are 6 tips to help get your house sold.
- Make it as easy as possible to schedule a showing. Yes, a 24 hr. notice would be nice, however, in this kind of market, do whatever it takes to get a buyer inside.
- Always have your house in ready to show condition. But don’t avoid a showing if it’s in less than ideal shape.
- Have pets out of the house during the showing.
- Light and bright sells. Remove dark curtains, put in higher wattage bulbs, clean windows, etc.
- Make sure your door locks work smoothly. If it is difficult to unlock the door, a buyer will already be thinking “poor maintenance.”
- Keep the entry clear of obstacles and make it attractive. Dragging buyers through cluttered garages or walkways, negotiating uneven steps, or avoiding pet “land mines” are a sure turn-off.
Looking for a REALTOR® to help you be successful in selling your house? Give me a call! Donna Forest 603-526-4116, donna@donnaforest.com, www.donnaforest.com
If your house has been on the market longer than expected with minimal activity, it’s time to review the 4 things that impact selling: Price, Condition, Location, and Marketing.
- Price – Evaluate the market with your agent to see the recent solds and new listings. Discuss where your house fits into this market data. Now may be the time for a price reduction.
- Condition – Look at your house through buyers’ eyes. Spruce up, fix problems, de-clutter. Review feedback from showings to see if any issues need to be addressed.
- Location – If you are located close to the road or are in a very rural area, for example, you can only overcome a poor location by lower pricing.
- Marketing Plan – Review where your property has been marketed with your agent. Look for heavy internet exposure, make sure you are in the area's Multiple Listing Service, and discuss the target market.
It takes time to market and sell a home, especially in this buyers’ market. It’s important to have realistic expectations about how long it does take to sell - talk to your agent about the average days on market for similar houses in your price range. If you’re looking for an experienced REALTOR® who has the expertise to get your home sold, then give me a call. 603-526-4116, www.donnaforest.com, donna@donnaforest.com.
If you want to sell your home in this market, there are steps you should take to get your house ready. The first one is to mentally prepare yourself that you probably will need to spend money in order to sell. In today’s market there are plenty of houses for sale and not enough buyers. Sellers are competing with other sellers to get their property sold. The best way to compete is to offer your house in the best condition and at the best price. Visualize this – a buyer looks at 6 homes in the same price range. Three are dated and tired in appearance, two are somewhat updated but still need work, and the sixth one is immaculate and updated. Guess which one will attract the buyer. So your next step, as a seller, is to assess what improvements or repairs need to be made. Have your agent walk through with you to determine what should be completed. It is important not to spend time or money on projects that will not have value to buyers. Lastly, get the work done prior to putting the house on the market. The old adage is true – “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.” Having your home in top notch condition and priced competitively will help position you for a successful sale in a timely fashion. Contact me to work with a REALTOR® who can best advise you for success! 603-526-4116, donna@donnaforest.com, www.donnaforest.com