Speaking of New Year's Resolutions...

I have taken the marketing plunge into the next step of personal promotion, both for myself and for my Sellers. This was rather fun to do, and I really enjoyed including a couple of my best clients in the process! What do you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knm4an-N1cg&feature=share&list=PLV7AamjShE1xCjIe4qlwvLWIdv7HyPOHY

Ten Signs it's Time to Sell Your Home

YES, a couple of these are silly. But a couple might hit it right on the head...

1. The kids have all graduated from college.  You and your husband finally have time to yourselves…then they move back home!
   
2. You have three spare rooms in a four bedroom house.
   
3. You have to shuffle your cars each morning to leave for work.
   
4. You spend more time driving to work than you do with your family.
   
5. You spend more money each month for storage than you do for your mortgage.
   
6. Your neighbor found a loophole in the homeowner's association rules and is raising donkeys.
   
7. You keep hearing faint voices telling you to "get out" and they're getting louder.
   
8. Grandpa Jed just struck oil while hunting in your back yard.
   
9. The dog’s house doubles as a guest room.
   
10. You have to take a number to use the bathroom.

If you would like a FREE, NO OBLIGATION consultation on selling your home, contact me today. And don't forget to ask about my "Hassle-Free Guarantee!"

Harmful Effects from Changing the Listing Price?

A colleague of mine share this powerful post summarizing research from a PhD professor at Florida International University and the Editor of the Journal of Housing Research regarding the effects of price changes on listings.


Do you follow your realtor's pricing advice? Will this research effect how you price YOUR home?
 
Harmful Effects from Changing the Listing Price?

Selling Myth #5...

Myth #5:  You are better off selling your home on your own and saving money on the commission you would have paid to a real estate agent.

Truth:  Statistically, many sellers who attempt to sell their homes on their own cannot consummate the sale without the service of a real estate agent. Homeowners who succeed in selling their home by themselves usually net less than if they had a real estate agent working for them. The National Association of REALTORS® surveys consumers every year, including homeowners who succeeded in selling their home without a real estate agent. Over 70% of these homeowners say that they would never do it again.

Next: Myth #6...

Six Selling Myths Uncovered

As a part of Keller Williams Realty, I have come across these this piece and find it to be rather valuable to Sellers. These are also items that come up regularly with my own clients, so I thought I would share this here. Not too much to read in a day, more to come! Chris

Myth #1:  You should always price your home high and negotiate down.

Truth:  Pricing too high can be as bad as pricing too low. If you list too high, you'll miss out on buyers looking in the price range where your home should be. Offers may not even come in, because buyers who are interested in your home are scared off by the price and won't even take the time to look at it. By the time you correct the price and list your home at its fair market value, you will have lost that window of opportunity when your home draws the most attention from the public and real estate agents; i.e. the first 30 days that it is on the market. A well-trained real estate agent who looks out for your best interests will consult with you on your home’s fair market value and different pricing strategies for the current market.

Next up: Myth #2...

The 7 Deadly Sins of Overpricing

Thinking of Selling? It's a tough market out there still for local Sellers. Still, homes are still selling, and everything will sell for the right price, right? If you just said 'no', consider this extreme example: even that 3,000 sqft fixer-upper house across the street with a 3-car garage will find the right buyer *quickly* if it's priced at only $20,000.

No, I'm not saying every home should be priced so drastically, that's silly. However, this article from Trulia.com points out a few reasons why as a Seller it's so important to get your pricing right, from the get-go. Particularly in a tough market with more competition and limited Buyers.
 
http://www.trulia.com/guide/home_selling/home_selling_strategies/the_seven_deadly_sins_of_overpricing/