Lots of Showings, and No Offers. Solve it and Sell it.

PROBLEM:

Your home is (or was) on the market ,  there is  (or there was)  no shortage of showings, but there were no offers either.

I hear  this from many disappointed home sellers after their home failed to sell within the listing period.  Surprisingly enough, I have had listing agents also ask me why this is happening to their own listing.

Three Very Important factors must all be present in order for your home to obtain an offer. If one of these three key elements of salability is missing, your chances of obaining an offer decrease exponentially.

 
It could be one of the three issues that need to be addressed, or a combination of any two. Sometimes it's all three.  But truly, these three are THE ONLY REASONS YOU DON'T HAVE AN OFFER, no matter what  any broker or anyone else tries to tell you.

Marketing: Is your home's marketing geared towards attracting  the most probable buyers? Is  your listing complete and truthful? Does it have current photos that accurately represent it condition and appearance?

Price: Is your home priced correctly? Do you have any negotiating room built in to the asking price?

Condition: Does your home have any deferred maintenance?Does the  exterior or interior  need any  staging?

When we talk about the three key factors in obtaining an offer, remember that if any ONE is not properly positioned, your chances of getting an offer are minimized.

Let's look at a few scenarios:

You could have the BEST house for the BEST price but if the most probable buyers never find it because of improper marketing, you won't get an offer.

If your agent has marketed your home on the most visible websites, and painted an accurate picture of your home, then it's not the marketing. It's something else- either price or condition

Price: The best marketing in the world will not help you to obtain offers on a home that is overpriced for the market.  A slightly overpriced home may indeed get showings,  but NO offers.

Condition:If your agent does a phenominal job of marketing your home,  and the price seems reasonable, it is the condition or the price. This is why feedback is so important on the showings that get. If an objection continues to arise, address it.

By the way, you may have noticed that I did not include location in this list. Location is already addressed by price. So if you keep hearing that buyers don't like the location, it is the price that must be addressed.

Contrary to what many agents will tell you, it is NOT ALWAYS the price. Try to have a neutral mindset and look at the condition of your home, look at the marketing, and make sure BOTH are in line with the market before you  consider adjusting the price.

And a note From Judy: If you would like to sell your home in Fairfield County, have not had any offers, and are in need of an Realtor to represent you, I invite you to contact me, and if you have an idea for a topic that you would like to see on The CT Realty Blog, please include it in the "Post a Comment" section link below this post. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to providing you with the best real estate content, advice and service in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

How to Stage Your Connecticut Home For Sale in the Winter

While we are lucky enough to enjoy the changes of the four different seasons in southwestern Connecticut, the Winter brings in colder temperatures, and much less daylight to work with, besides the wintry conditions that will inevitably occur. The unique set of challenges that occur during this time need to be addressed in order to properly stage your home to show at its best. Don't forget the basics of staging, just add these seasonal suggestions to show your home at its best.

... and remember,  buyers do appreciate the effort that you take to make sure your home is in show-ready condition, and you may very well end up getting more money for yoru home because of that little extra effort.

STAGE THE OUTSIDE FIRST:

Curb Appeal Brush Up

Weather permitting, and preferably before the first snow, clear out any excess fallen leaves from the yard, as well as the gutters. If there are any dead plants, remove them now. If there are tools that are outside, bring themin the shed or garage. Remove any garden hoses and turn the water off for the spigot, if it's not already off.

Add to your Curb Appeal

Who says you can't put flowers out of some kind?  Colorful Mums are great in the fall through early December, and small seasonal faux trees in pots look great on your front porch, either with or without lights. A wreath of almost an type on your front door is also quite welcoming. Whatever plant or wreath you choose, please just make sure they are seasonally appropriate.

Exterior Lighting

Are the lights at your front door bright enough? Maybe it's time to change them,  add  more fixtures, or at least change the wattage on the bulb.

The Rear and Side Yard Views

You may not have thought about during the winter, but just go ahead adn go to the rear of your yard and look at your home from the back.  If you have a rear deck or porch, put a pot of seasonal plants there, too. At some point during the winter, it will be unforgiving cold. Consider a well made alternative. It is all the seemingly little things that add up and mean a lot.  

Patios, Porches and Decks

Make sure your deck and/or patio is free and clear of any debris. You may want to check for any loose planking, screws or nails, and fix wherever appropriate. Clean your deck off completely, and that includes storing the furniture in the garage, shed or basement. When the snow comes, the buyer should be able to walk on a totally clear deck, where the snow has all been removed. Helpful Hint: It is much easier to sweep  or shovel off the snow when the deck is completely clear.

Don't Forget to Check Your Side Yard.

Just make sure  that it's neat and tidy. If you store your trash cans outdoors on the side of your home,  make sure they are as clean as possible. (No scuffs, scrapes or old dirt on the outside)

Clear Your Driveway, Front Walk, and Front Porch of Snow and Ice.

This is the single most important item on the winter staging agenda. If buyers cannot reach your home due to an snow covered driveway, snow covered walkway and/or porch, they won't come in. Ice is even more treacherous. There are plenty of products on the market that will just about do all the work for you to get that ice removed.  If you are away frequently, hire someone to handle ice and snow removal in your absence.

Windows

Get the windows washed if you haven't done so recently. Besides the fact that the sun is lower in the winter, and shows every piece of dirt on every piece of glass, the added unobstructed sunlight  will add very nicely to your home's appeal.

NOW, STAGE THE INSIDE:

Warmth

Think warm and cozy. If the weather outside is frightful, make your home's temperature delightful. (Sorry, just couldn't resist that one) Truly, a warm home is much more comfortable to look at than a cold one. If the buyers aren't comfortable, they will not stay long enough to view your home without  just hurrying up to get back into their car where it actually feels warmer.

Lighting

Take every advantage that you can of the diminished natural light that you get. Clean yuor blinds and curtains and open them as wide as possible. Clean the lamps, and bulbs (just make sure that the bulbs are cool to the touch before you do so). Replace bulbs with the highest wattage allowed for the fixture to add as much light. Put timers on selected lights to be able to have tour home in "light-ready show condition"  when you are not home.

Some extras to think about

Go ahead, set the dinner table. Put out some chocolates, or have a plate of cookies out.
Think about aromas- Cinnamon rolls, freshly baked bread, apple pie, chocolate chip cookies, vanilla or cinnamon- just don't overdo it.
If you have summer or fall photos of the outside, put them out for your buyers to see.

A few more relevant articles on staging:

Proper Staging and Guidelines for Home Showings

Staging the Outside of Your Home

How Much Does it Cost to Stage Your Home

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, and if you have an idea for a topic that you would like to see on The CT Realty Blog, please include it in the "Post a Comment" section link below this post. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to providing you with the best real estate content, advice and service in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

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The Eight Great Reasons to Sell Your CT Home During the Holiday Season

If you have been wanting to sell your home, but  felt that the holiday season is just the wrong time to begin the process, think again.

You may already know, or have heard that timing is everything, and it truly is. The Eight Great reasons to  put your home on the market amidst the holiday hoopla are:

1.  Did you know than over TEN percent of annual sales occur during the holiday season?
 
2. There is much less inventory for buyers to choose from, and that means less competition for you, and maybe even a higher price.

3. The buyers that are out and looking are quite serious and need or want to buy, otherwise they would probably be at the mall shopping for gifts.
 
4. If you decorate your home for the holidays, it will show beautifully. Everybody loves decorations. If you don't normally decorate, that's fine, too.

5. Very few homes will have added curb appeal due to fall and winter conditions. No lawn is beautifully green and no trees are lush. It's a level playing field as far as that's concerned. There is next to no maintenance of the yard as well, making it that much easier, and at some point, snow will cover it anyway.

6. The aromas from pies, cookies and the like create quite a pleasant atmosphere  for buyers looking at your home.

7. If there are times when showing your home is inconvenient, you can always defer the showing to another time. (just as you can throughout the year)

8. Have you thought about additional exposure from your neighbors holiday get togethers? Their friends and family may just be chomping at the bit to live on your street, and lo and behold- A house is for sale there- YOURS, and it could be the reason it sells. 

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, and if you have an idea for a topic that you would like to see on The CT Realty Blog, please include it in the "Post a Comment" section link below this post. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to providing you with the best real estate content, advice and service in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

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Could Your Vacant Home Be Disadvantaged in the Connecticut Real Estate Market?

Sometimes, selling a vacant home is the best choice, but it all depends on individual circumstances.  While most sellers live in their home while it is on the market,  some homeowners have the luxury of entertaining  a few different options when they sell.

When the seller vacates prior to marketing the home for sale, or while the property is on the market but not sold due to a relocation, they can choose to leave the home fully furnished, partially furnished, or vacant. Depending on the house and property, one may be a better option for some homeowners  than another.  

As a general rule, you should try and avoid selling an absentee or vacant home if at all possible, but there are some exceptions. 

Why You Should Reside in Your Home While it is On The Market, Even if you Have the Option Not To.

*Overall Home Security
*MOST homes "show" better furnished
*Buyers can envision themselves living at your home more easily.
*Minor cosmetic imperfections or flaws are not easily noticed
*Maintenance and Upkeep
*The buyers will have an example as to how to furnish a difficult room.

Why a Vacant Home Can Put Marketing Efforts  at a Disadvantage.

*Invitatation to potential break-ins
*Perceived desperation invites lower offers from buyers
*Tendency for some homesellers to forget to maintain the outside of home
*If you turn the electricity off, your home can only be shown during daylight hours
*If you set the thermostat to less than 65 degrees in the winter, it can become uncomfortable for buyers to even view your home for any length of time.
*If you choose to winterize your home instead,  it will be VERY cold in the winter, and not inviting to buyers.

The Middle Ground - Leaving Some Items of Furniture Rather Than a Whole Houseful.

If you must take most of your furniture with you, try and leave a few choice pieces behind, or if you have the means, rent some furniture short-term with expert guidance from your Realtor, or a professional stager.  If you are on a tight budget, focus on the living room, kitchen and just one bedroom. Additionally, you can purchase pre-owned furniture very cheaply, and it's very easy to find in the local paper or a few local online sources. Going this route can cost much less than renting individual pieces for a few months. Just something to consider.

When is Selling a Vacant Home Preferable to Selling a Furnished Home?

When a home's furnishings are far from neutral, are in very poor condition, or tattered and dirty, even though it's just furniture, it will detract from the home's marketability. Under these circumstances, and almost exclusively under these circumstances would I ever suggest that selling the home vacant would be a better idea.

If you are experiencing a market or particular condition in your marketplace where there is an influx of buyers who need to purchase and close quickly, a vacant home will give you a distinct advantage.

A few relevant articles on staging:

Proper Staging and Guidelines for Home Showings

Staging the Outside of Your Home

How Much Does it Cost to Stage Your Home

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, and if you have an idea for a topic that you would like to see on The CT Realty Blog, please include it in the "Post a Comment" section link below this post. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to providing you with the best real estate content, advice and service in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

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Seller Tips: Proper Staging and Guidelines for Home Showings.

When you list your home for sale, a lot of emotions can come to the forefront of your thoughts. You love your house, you may  have some sentimental memories there, and it's only natural to think that everyone who comes in should like it enough too want to buy it, too. But that's not always the case.

The most important thing to remember is that it is not a personal affront to you when a buyer comes into your home and doesn't wish to pursue a purchase.

There are things that you can do before, during and after a home showing that will assist your Realtor in making the process as quick and painless as possible  There are also things that you shouldn't do that can also hinder a sale. SEE ARTICLE ON "Should a Seller Leave During Home Showings".

Before the showing:

Is you home properly staged for sale? We have a few general tips on staging  and have also provided useful links right here within this article for your reference.

OUTSIDE: Make sure your front porch is inviting. During the summer months, put a potted plant near the door. In the fall, Mums are nice, and make sure that the porch and front walk are clear of any fallen leaves. In the winter, make sure your walk is devoid of ice and/or snow. SEE ARTICLE ON Exterior Staging

INSIDE: Pick up any clothing on the floor, on the bed, draped on the couch, or in the laundry room.  Gather all of your personal papers and put them out of sight. Make sure your counters are clean, no dishes are in the sink, and that your home smells fresh.  In, short, it's time to de-clutter. DO NOT spray something like Febreze all around the house moments before a showing. It's obvious to buyers, and it looks like you are hiding something.

During the Showing: Try and leave if you can. You don't have to leave until the buyers come, but  really- try not to be there.It can get uncomfortable for the buyers and you want them to have their own "space" while they are looking.

After the Showing: Most  buyers spend about 10-15 minutes looking at an average sized  home. Any less, they are probably not interested. If they stay over 20 minutes, there may be some interest. You should expect that your agent (that would be me!)  will obtain feedback for you on the showing. Be prepared for negative feedback, and again... do not take it personally. Feedback helps you and your agent tweak the marketing of your home in order to effect a sale.

When you decide to sell your home, be prepared for the gamut of emotions to pour out. Don't shoot the messenger if the news is not exactly what you want to hear, and always be fully prepared for the last minute showing. It could very well be your last showing, too!

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