Across the country, every Sunday afternoon, open houses are being held. The question is why? Statistics show that less than 3% of buyers who bought property in the last three years bought the property because they saw it at an open house.
Then why are so many open houses still being held? One reason is that sellers still think that agents should hold an open house. Most sellers see open houses as a way to find a buyer for their home. The truth is, open houses do find buyers, but most of the time not for the homeowner that is holding the open house. Buyers meet an agent, and over time, the better agents match the buyers particular needs to exactly the right home.
When a buyer comes through an open house, he may have simply dropped in to take a look without knowing anything about the homes price range or features. Most of the time the house does not fulfill the particular needs of the buyer.
It would be like going to a car dealer and deciding to buy the first car you see, without knowing it’s price, features, or financing options. What’s the chance that you would qualify or that the car would suit your needs? About the same chance that your home would perfectly suit a “drop-in” buyer.
So what’s the other reason open houses are still being held? Open houses are great ways for newer agents to get their feet wet. By holding an open house they meet buyers who might be interested in another property on the market. So don’t be surprised if a more experienced agent refuses to hold an open house on your property. Seasoned agents know what types of advertising and marketing work best, and won’t use your home as an avenue for finding buyers for other agent’s listings.
Showing posts with label relocation tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label relocation tips. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Top Fixes Recomended By Home Inspectors
Buyers today are more educated and demanding than they were in the past. It should not be surprising to a seller that a buyer would ask for a home inspection before signing a hefty purchase agreement. Therefore, it would be wise for homeowners to look at the areas where most home inspections fail. Start by fixing those areas up in advance, before you’re ready to place your house on the market.
The most frequently found problem area is water in the crawl space or basement. Poor drainage can result in water damage that will be more than apparent to an inspector. This can be an expensive problem to fix.
Start by re-grading the soil around the foundation of the home where water seems to be entering, or invest in waterproofing. It’s also a good idea to invest in a dehumidifier to remove moisture on an ongoing basis.
There are some areas that are more prone to water in the basement than others. Most buyers know if a little water is to be expected or not. If you’re unsure how prevalent the problem is in your area, feel free to call me anytime for advice.
The second most common problem found by inspectors is poor wiring. The wiring in your home needs to be up to code, and has to have sufficient overload protection.
Sometimes the best way to be sure the wiring in your home is in good shape is to hire a home inspector, or electrical contractor to check it out for you. Even if you’re not selling your home right now, you would want to make sure your family is living in a house that is safe from fire hazards.
Another major problem found in certain areas, is termite damage. If you begin to suspect at any time that your home may have termites, it’s urgent that you call a pest control service right away. This particular problem needs to be taken care of quickly.
More Important Home Fixes
Other areas that should be looked at as potential problems are the heating systems of your home, structural damage, such as extensive cracks in the walls or ceiling, or leaky roofs.
When deciding what is important to fix, put yourself in the place of the buyer. If you were considering buying the home you live in now, what would you consider important that the seller fix?
Handle problems in condition or construction with estimates and repair by a reputable contractor. Sooner is better than later, especially when the demands of moving and evaluation of the buyer run high. Do it now!
Anything you can do to make your home more saleable in advance may mean more money and less hassle when you’re actually ready to sell.
The most frequently found problem area is water in the crawl space or basement. Poor drainage can result in water damage that will be more than apparent to an inspector. This can be an expensive problem to fix.
Start by re-grading the soil around the foundation of the home where water seems to be entering, or invest in waterproofing. It’s also a good idea to invest in a dehumidifier to remove moisture on an ongoing basis.
There are some areas that are more prone to water in the basement than others. Most buyers know if a little water is to be expected or not. If you’re unsure how prevalent the problem is in your area, feel free to call me anytime for advice.
The second most common problem found by inspectors is poor wiring. The wiring in your home needs to be up to code, and has to have sufficient overload protection.
Sometimes the best way to be sure the wiring in your home is in good shape is to hire a home inspector, or electrical contractor to check it out for you. Even if you’re not selling your home right now, you would want to make sure your family is living in a house that is safe from fire hazards.
Another major problem found in certain areas, is termite damage. If you begin to suspect at any time that your home may have termites, it’s urgent that you call a pest control service right away. This particular problem needs to be taken care of quickly.
More Important Home Fixes
Other areas that should be looked at as potential problems are the heating systems of your home, structural damage, such as extensive cracks in the walls or ceiling, or leaky roofs.
When deciding what is important to fix, put yourself in the place of the buyer. If you were considering buying the home you live in now, what would you consider important that the seller fix?
Handle problems in condition or construction with estimates and repair by a reputable contractor. Sooner is better than later, especially when the demands of moving and evaluation of the buyer run high. Do it now!
Anything you can do to make your home more saleable in advance may mean more money and less hassle when you’re actually ready to sell.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Rewards of a Rose Garden
Roses have the reputation of being difficult, fussy plants that require a great deal of attention and time. Although it takes some effort on your part to maintain the beauty and health of a rose garden, the reward of numerous blossoms in wonderful vibrant colors is sufficient reward for most gardeners. A little water, fertilizer, and spray, on a weekly basis, can be a pleasant excuse to spend time in your fragrant garden.
Your rose bed should be planted where it receives full or partial sunshine at least six hours a day. There are varieties of roses that thrive in more shade but they will not be as fragrant as the others. Good drainage is also critical for roses. They like a lot of water, but do not like wet feet, so a raised bed of at least ten to fifteen inches high is a solution. It also makes gardening chores easier. Roses do best in loamy soil with high humus content. Amend the soil with organic matter such as compost, peat moss or cow manure and be sure to test the soil to determine the acidity.
Check with a nursery in your area for tips on when to transplant roses, but generally, any time from spring to fall, or when the plant is dormant and the ground is workable. Water every 3 or 4 days, soaking the soil to 8 inches; and fertilize depending on your type of soil, but usually about once every 4-6 weeks.
Lots of varieties of roses are available. The choices include climbing roses, tree roses, miniature roses, hybrid perpetual roses, grandiflora roses, and antique roses to name a few. Look at your space and the view from the house to determine how you want to define the space for planting. The rose can serve many functions including becoming a fragrant hedge, which provides bouquets of fresh cut flowers to decorate the inside of your home.
Give roses a try. The rewards are many and the satisfaction of seeing a perfect rose that you have grown makes it well worth the effort.
Your rose bed should be planted where it receives full or partial sunshine at least six hours a day. There are varieties of roses that thrive in more shade but they will not be as fragrant as the others. Good drainage is also critical for roses. They like a lot of water, but do not like wet feet, so a raised bed of at least ten to fifteen inches high is a solution. It also makes gardening chores easier. Roses do best in loamy soil with high humus content. Amend the soil with organic matter such as compost, peat moss or cow manure and be sure to test the soil to determine the acidity.
Check with a nursery in your area for tips on when to transplant roses, but generally, any time from spring to fall, or when the plant is dormant and the ground is workable. Water every 3 or 4 days, soaking the soil to 8 inches; and fertilize depending on your type of soil, but usually about once every 4-6 weeks.
Lots of varieties of roses are available. The choices include climbing roses, tree roses, miniature roses, hybrid perpetual roses, grandiflora roses, and antique roses to name a few. Look at your space and the view from the house to determine how you want to define the space for planting. The rose can serve many functions including becoming a fragrant hedge, which provides bouquets of fresh cut flowers to decorate the inside of your home.
Give roses a try. The rewards are many and the satisfaction of seeing a perfect rose that you have grown makes it well worth the effort.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Getting Schooled on Local Schools
If you have kids, the local school will be a big part of your new home buying decision. That’s why it’s important to get a schools “vital statistics,’ such as :
- Safety record
- Curriculum
- Accommodating for special needs
- Awards
- Average class sizes
- Extracurricular activities (sports. Arts. Crafts. Technology. Etc.)
- Scores on standardized achievement tests.
- Daily schedules and vacations
Even such seemingly inconsequential detail as hours of operation can be important. If school starts a half hour later than you expected, you may not be able to drop off your kids on your way to work and therefore, you will need t make other arrangements.
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