Spruce Up Outside When Selling

 

Certain things never go out of style and curb appeal is one of them.  If you are putting your home up for sale, here are some tips to make it more attractive to a potential buyer. 

•  Go around the perimeter of the house and move all garbage cans, discarded wood scraps, extra building materials, etc., to the garage or, if applicable, take them to the dump.

• Check gutters and roof for dry rot and moss. Make sure they are swept and cleaned.

• Examine all plants. Prune bushes and trees. Keep plants from blocking windows: “You can’t sell a house if you can’t see it!”

• Remove any dead plants, weed all planting areas, and put down fresh mulching material.

• Keep your lawn freshly cut, edged, and fertilized during the growing season.

• Clear patios or decks of all small items, such as little planters, flower pots, charcoal, barbeques, toys, etc.

• Check the condition of the paint on your home, especially the trim and the front door. The first impression, or “curb appeal,” is very important.

 

Try to look at your house “through a buyer’s eyes,” as though you’ve never seen it before. This will help you see what needs to be done. Any time and money invested on these items will usually bring you the return of more money and a quicker sale.

 

Nancy Puder is a real estate broker at Signature Properties, a prestigious real estate firm in Arroyo Grande, CA. You may contact her at Nancy@NancyPuder.com or (805)710-2415. She always enjoys hearing from you!

 

 

Simple Steps to Stage Your Home to Sell

It's true that not everyone's home is going to look like Martha Stewart lives there no matter what they do. There are, however, some simple steps, that any seller can take, so that the home shows better.  Here are some ideas.

 

*Clear all unnecessary objects from furniture.  Keep accessories and objects on the furniture restricted to groups of 1, 3, or 5 items.  A de-cluttered home helps the buyer mentally “move in” with their own things.  Yes, that iincludes those cute stuffed animals!

 

* Rearrange or remove some of the furniture  if necessary.  When it comes to selling your home, thin out overcrowded rooms to make the rooms appear larger.

 

* Clear all unnecessary objects from the kitchen countertops. If it hasn’t been used for three months…put it away! Clear refrigerator fronts of messages, magnets, pictures, etc.

 

* Bathrooms - remove any unnecessary items from the countertops, tub, shower stall, and commode top. Keep only the most necessary cosmetics, brushes, perfumes, etc., in one small group on the counter. Coordinate towels in one or two colors only.  (Big fluffy white towels give a "spa like" feel)

 

* Take down, reduce, or rearrange pictures and objects on walls. Patch and paint walls wherever necessary

 

* Pack up and store. If you need room to store extra possessions, get a storage unit.

 

* Leave on certain lights during the day . During showings turn on ALL lights and lamps.

 

*Set a background tune. Play light FM music every day in the house, for all viewings. 

 

Nancy Puder is a real estate broker at Signature Properties, a prestigious real estate firm in Arroyo Grande, CA. You may contact her at Nancy@NancyPuder.com or (805)710-2415. She always enjoys hearing from you!

 

 

 

Homeowners On Track to Regain Equity

 

 

Home values are steadily rising, putting many underwater homeowners on track to regain enough equity by 2015 without having to short sell.  This prediction should hold true if home prices continue to rise at 1.33 percent per month.  Some homeowners have already regained their equity and are now selling their homes after a long wait.

 

According to recent reports, however, 8.3 million homes across the country will still need more time before they enjoy a positive equity status.  The good news is that as home values go up, we should begin to see more homes available for sale. 

 

Reports further show that one out of four homes in foreclosure may have enough equity to sell before the property goes back to the bank.

 

This is good news for sellers, but buyers may not be as thrilled since they will probably pay more for the same home that they passed on last year.  

 

Naturally, the doomsayers are worried that we are headed back to where we were before the bubble burst.  While that could be true, I think I will choose to just bask in some good news for awhile and enjoy the ride!

 

Nancy Puder is a real estate broker at Signature Properties, a prestigious real estate firm in Arroyo Grande, CA. You may contact her at Nancy@NancyPuder.com or (805)710-2415 She always enjoys hearing from you!

 

 

 

New Type of Investor in Today's Market

A new type of investor is emerging in today's real estate market. Gradually fading is the "all cash" investor or institution that has been buying up distressed properties as quickly as they came up for sale.  

 

Cash investors played an important part of the housing recovery, erasing shadow inventory and driving prices upward. Now reports show that this investor, along with the foreign investor is retreating.


Today, a more conservative and value oriented investor has emerged. These value investors are looking for nice homes in areas where the market is sustainable and they are thinking "long term investment".  As the housing recovery continues I believe that we will see more and more  of this reliable type of investor.


Our Central Coast has always been an attractive place for future retirees and for those who are interested in purchasing a second home or investment property.  The beautiful coastline, mild weather and easy style of living continues to be a wonderful place to call home!


Nancy Puder is the real estate broker at Signature Properties, a prestigious real estate firm in Arroyo Grande, CA. If you have questions concerning your real estate needs, you may contact Nancy at Nancy@NancyPuder.com or (805)710-2415. She always enjoys hearing from you!

 

Tip to Sellers Regarding Home Inspections

 

 

 

 

Buying a home is one of the most significant decisions and one of the biggest investments a buyer will ever make. A home inspection will give the buyer a clear, unbiased evaluation of a home's condition, answer any questions the buyer may have, and help to give them peace of mind.

 

An inspection of the home they are considering will help them make an informed decision during the purchase process.  It will also provide them with the information they will need for any repairs and maintenance their new home may require.  A professional home inspection will allow them to buy with confidence.

 

To help prevent delays and uncomfortable situations after you are in escrow,  I suggest that you walk through your home and view it through the eyes of a potential buyer.  For instance, you may think that your over-sized jetted bathtub is pretty spectacular and one of your biggest selling points.  You may be accustomed to people exclaiming "aahhh!" when they walk into your luxurious master suite bathroom and feel pretty darn good about that selling feature.

It's been my experience, however, that once the novelty of the spectacular bathroom wears off, theses tubs are seldom used.   At some point, the property sells and the home inspector arrives on the scene. What is the first thing he will do?  Fill that big tub up with water and turn on the jets! 

Imagine the face of the buyer and your own mortification as you both witness green moldy things floating around!  Moral of the story?  Clean your jets BEFORE you put your house on the market and address any potential "issues".  

Most buyers are still excited about the pending purchase at the time of the inspection.  My advice is to eliminate any unnecessary reasons for your buyer to feel disillusioned before you can move forward  to a successful closing.

 

Nancy Puder is the owner/broker of Signature Properties, a prestigious real estate firm in Arroyo Grande, CA. If you have questions concerning your real estate needs, you may contact Nancy at Nancy@NancyPuder.com or (805)710-2415 She always enjoys hearing from you!

Urban Real Estate Myths

In the crazy world of real estate, everyone seems to have an opinion or pre-set idea on how it all works.  Mainly because someone is always talking about real estate wherever you go.  Good market, bad market, shopping lines at the store, friends and family sharing experiences and giving advice and of course, the well-meaning but often inaccurate media.  Here are few common urban myths that should help you get a better idea of the real estate market.

 "We can always come down"

Truth - A well priced home will sell quicker and closer to market value, than one that is priced too high in the beginning.  Buyers today have access to the internet and do their own research on your property before they even come to see it in most cases.

 

"My neighbor says that we are priced too low for the neighborhood"

 

Truth - Your neighbor has an emotional stake in what your home sells for as it will affect how much their home is worth.  Let the professionals research your asking price based on facts.

"I heard prices are way up"

Truth - Yes it is true that in some geographical areas that were hit especially hard.  In other areas that remained more stable, price increases are more gradual.  Don't listen to generic or national statistics. Speak to a professional Realtor to determine was is going on in your own local market.

"I heard there is no money for buyers. Is that true?"

Truth - No. There is more mortgage money available than ever before.  Certain reality checks have been put back in place as opposed to pre-recession like the buyer actually has to have a job!

"I'm selling my home "as is".  That's the way they are taking it.."as is"

Truth - Yes, you have the right to sell your property "as is" as long as you disclose anything you know that may be considered a factor in the buyer's decision to buy and the buyer accepts your disclosures.  However, if issues arise during a home inspection, the buyer has the right to re-open negotiations.

Give me a call if you have any questions regarding your property.  I always enjoy hearing from you! 

Nancy Puder is the owner/broker of Signature Properties, a prestigious real estate firm in Arroyo Grande, CA. If you have questions concerning your real estate needs, you may contact Nancy at Nancy@NancyPuder.com or (805)710-2415. She always enjoys hearing from you!

What Buyers Really Want...

 

 

Overall factors in a buyer's decision on where to buy their home is quality of the neighborhood, convenience to their jobs, and affordability of the home.  Under fifty percent of buyers report that the school district is a top factor in choosing their neighborhood.  However, this percentage is lower than it was a a couple of years ago. The number of buyers concerned about the overall  neighborhood has also gone down.

 

The typical buyer today is planning to live in their home for fifteen years.  This is definitely up from a few years ago in when that same question was asked.  A few years ago, the typical buyer planned to live in the home ten years.  

 

When I started my real estate career over 30 years ago, the typical time that a buyer stayed in a home was five to seven years.  Could this mean that as a whole, we are beginning to view stability as a better goal, rather than becoming a real estate tycoon overnight?  

 

I believe that the recession was a reality check for all of us.  Maybe everyone was not seriously affected by the recession, but we all knew people who were.  All of a sudden, our homes didn't look so bad with a little repair here and little remodel there.

 

According to the latest reports, more married couples are buying, while the number of single buyers purchasing a home this past year has lowered.  That number is probably down because of tighter credit standards when getting a mortgage.

 

Navigating the real estate process is a complicated process.  If you want to have a good experience whether purchasing your first or your next home, be sure to choose a Realtor who truly is a professional rather than the guy or gal next door or someone you know who has a real estate license. There are great Realtors to choose from in your marketplace.  Be sure to choose a good one.

 

Nancy Puder is the owner/broker of Signature Properties, a prestigious real estate firm in Arroyo Grande, CA. If you have questions concerning your real estate needs, you may contact Nancy at Nancy@NancyPuder.com or (805)710-2415 She always enjoys hearing from you!