What Sellers Should Know About Pets and Showings

Selling your home? Keep in mind that buyers and their agents should feel welcome to look at the property at their leisure without danger or distractions. So while you adore your sweet-tempered pit bull rescue, he could turn territorial, barking and growling at potential homebuyers. And it could cost you the opportunity to sell your home.

Think of buyers as guests and work to make them feel comfortable as they consider your home for purchase. If you have a protective dog or one that isn't well-trained, drop her off at doggie day care when you know your home is going to be shown. Or call a pet sitter on call who can take your pet for a long walk while your home is being shown.

If you must leave the dog at home, don't expect real estate professionals to handle your dog. They are not dog trainers and should not be expected to risk a dog bite to show your home to buyers. This is where crate-training can be a huge advantage. At least your dog is secured and more inclined to relax while your home is being shown.

What you should not do is leave your dog loose in the backyard. Not only does the buyer not have access to part of the property, but your dog could bark so much that the din drives the buyer out of the house. Also, don't leave your dog at the neighbor's. It's just as bad if the buyer believes a noisy dog lives next door.

Housecats can also repel buyers. Most homes aren't designed with a convenient place for the litter box, so cat owners do the best they can. Owners get used to the smells of catboxes and fishy foods, which could be offensive to buyers who don't have cats.

While buyers aren't afraid of being cat-attacked, cats can still be startling -- they appear silently without warning and they jump on furniture and counters. And if you've taught your cat to jump on your shoulders, you can imagine what could happen to an unsuspecting buyer.

Exotic pets can be showing-stoppers, too. Birds are gorgeous, but a puffed-up screeching cockatoo can be intimidating and dangerous. Imagine a buyer bringing small children who can't resist sticking their fingers in the cage and quickly get rewarded with a nasty bite from a very strong beak.

When you're selling a home, keep in mind that the first two weeks on the market are crucial. That's the time you want your home to be pristine and move-in ready. You don't want any noise, smells or stains that could put buyers off.

Sell your home faster and for more money by making your home as inviting and accessible as possible, so that buyers have no barriers to overcome. Accessibility to your home is just as important as price, condition and location.


Courtesy of RealtyTimes/ Blanche Evans

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like: Find out more about Judy here

www.JudySzablakRealtor.com

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com      www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

and www.BestWestportHomes.com

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

Remodeling or Renovating While Your CT Home is On The Market

Sometimes, circumstances dictate that remodeling, removation, and/or minor alterations or repairs have to occur while your home is on the market.

This can be tricky, however, depending on what kind of construction is  taking place.

First, it is important to be crystal clear in the marketing of your home while thsi is taking place, so that agents and buyers alike know and understand that work is taking place.

Big repair jobs are better with no interruptions, and sometimes its  better to withdraw your home for sale for just a short time.

On the other hand, some buyers like to see the work in progress, and actually seeing work that is taking place can create a sense of urgency for teh buyer, especially, if they would like to tweak the renovations to better suit their taste.

Small renovations and minor repairs/remodels can be considered a big plus to see throughout the process, so keep your home on the market during this time if it makes sense to you.

HINT: Remember to take before, during and after pictures.

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like:

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

Are You Smelling Your Home, or Are You Selling it?

When you have been living in your home for as long as most people do before they put it on the market,  sometimes a homes odors can go unnoticed as you just may have become acclimated to them, however minimal they may be.

And no, not all homes have odors, but the ones that do tend to languish on the market, and tend to sell for less money, as the buyer (in his/her mind) is about to purchase something of an unknown entity- that is, whether or not the odor will go away, and how long will it take?

So paying attention to the "sense" in staging goes a long Way to sell your home. In other words, improving your home's "scents" is a  key element.

The two biggest offenders are pet smells and/or smoking odors, which can permeate the carpets, walls and furniture.

No one says that you have to break the bank to get your home ready for sale. One thing that you do have to realize is that those first impressions by the buyer's senses are simply HUGE, and will have a very strong determining factor in whether or not a prospective buyer will have interest in making your home theirs. And that's the point, right?

Sometimes, it's as little as ripping out a few carpets and painting the walls to give a home a fresh look... and a fresh smell. Check out this article on effective methods of handling odors in your home.

Rely on your professional  and experienced Fairfield County Connecticut Realtor (that's me) to let you know if it makes "sense" to be addressed.

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County?  Contact us!

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Search for properties on any of our sites, or get the very best visibility available for your home. Visit us online wherever you like:

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com      www.TheCTrealtyBlog.com     www.TheCTRB.com    and   www.CTfeaturedHomes.com 

 Email us or  call Toll Free (855) GET-JUDY

"Sneak Peek Open" at 4 Highwood Lane Westport for $700K on 8/16

Come take a look at this newly listed  2,116 square foot home on 1.24 acres in Westport on Thursday 8/16/2012 between 11AM and 1PM. It's a great value in a very desirable area of town, and just needs some minor cosmetics- and they are minor.

Just so you know, you won't need to be concerned about the roof or windows - they are recent, and the mechanicals are only a few months old.

The three bedroom, three bath home is private, and not visible from the road- There is also an inground pool with a cabana. The property  looks and feels likes a sanctuary. At this price, this home is NOT to be missed. View more pictures of 4 Highwood Lane and/or request your personal showing if you can't make it on Thursday.

NOTE: There won't be any signs directing you there like normal open houses, but a for sale sign is on the property, and I will be there along with a mortgage broker to answer any questions you may have. Bring your checkbook!

Refreshments will be served. Hope to see you!

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Buying or Selling a Home in Westport or in Fairfield County? We'd love to represent you.

Feel free to email us here or visit our main  site at

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Westport or in Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

New to the Market Today- The Most Exquisite Colonial in Easton for $1.4M

Elegant in every way, this 5,951 square foot Georgian Style Colonial is  private and secluded, yet less than 5 miles to the Merritt Parkway.

Luxuriously appointed, meticulously maintained, and designed to perfection, this home is an entertainers dream and delight. Outstanding features include a grand two story entrance with dual staircases and balcony, a gourmet kitchen  with top of the line appliances, and a master bedroom suite  with a fireplace in the  sitting room, dual custom cherry closets, and a spa like bath. This home is right out of something liek Architectural Digest, and with so many outstanding features, it won't be available for too long. View additional photos HERE, or

.... View this home at 125 Norton Road in Easton by appointment ONLY, with pre-approvals in hand. Contact Exclusive Listing Agent Judy Szablak for your private tour, which we can arrange as early as tomorrow afternoon. (July 10, 2012)

Here's a small taste of what this home has to offer. ( The foyer balcony view, and the Foyer itself. )

Contact Judy Today by phone or SMS (203)257-5892 or email Judy@BestAgentsOnline.com

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Buying or Selling a Home in Easton or in Fairfield County? We'd love to represent you.

Feel free to email us here or visit our main  site at

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  easton or in Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy