Happy 2012 Holidays and Warm Season’s Greetings!
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This video is from our recent annual client appreciation event where we gave away Christmas wreaths and had pictures with Santa.
To all our cherished friends, neighbors, family and clients – we are so proud to have been able to work with you and be a part of your lives! As we end this year and turn to the exciting time and events that 2013 holds, we just wanted to take a moment to thank you for all that you bring to our lives.
We have some really great plans in the coming year to bring more success to all your real estate endeavors. And with each transaction that makes it to the closing table in the coming months and years ahead – we know that there will continue to be new and exciting things to follow for all of us.
On behalf of the entire group – Happy Holidays, Season’s Greetings, Peace and Joy and don't forget to "Like" us on Facebook to stay up to date on the latest happenings in Greenville!
10 Things to Remove Before Listing or Showing Your Home
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Everyone know you need to de-clutter when it's time to sell your home. What does that really mean? Here are a few of the most important things to consider removing before you list your home for sale.
10. Personal photos. I don't always recommend removing photos of the 'family' but if you have hallways filled with photos or photos on every end table it is probably necessary. Buyers really DO get distracted by them. They will take them all in as they walk down the hall. Not only do they take away from the home, but it's really disturbing when a buyer is excited to 'know' the sellers. And, the buyers do look at them.
9. Bills and personal papers. I understand that you cannot remove these document from the home all together, but please take the time to organize them, box them up and put them out of sight. If you have bills laying out on the counter or kitchen table it's like an invitation for the buyers to 'peek' at them. Believe me - I discourage it - but it still happens. And as a seller you just don't want to leave the temptation behind.
8. Money. I would love to say that every buyer (and Realtor) going through every home is honest, but I really don't want to test those waters. If you have cash, cash boxes or coin jars sitting out in the open... put them away. It's just better for everyone if it's out of sight. As Realtors we do what we can to protect your home, but your help makes a difference!
7. Valuables. Jewelry, watches, valuable antiques.... anything that might be worth a bit of money that you wouldn't want to lose. Out of sight, out of mind. If buyers don't know they are there they won't think about it. I can't tell you how many homes I've been in where the jewelry is left on the dresser.... somehow it's uncomfortable. At least put it away.
6. Guns and ammo. I don't care if they are in a case or out laying around or under a bed. It's better if you just plain old remove them from the home prior to listing. For some reason they make buyers (in my experience) feel really insecure.
5. Shoes! If you have a pile of shoes at the door... ask yourself why. A pile of shoes gives a buyer two impressions. The first? That there isn't enough storage in your home. 2. That there are too many people living in the home. So, in order to avoid wondering on the part of the buyer... just put them away.
4. Medicine. Take it out. Don't store it on the counter. Don't store it in the cabinet. Don't store it in the bathroom. Remove it. There have been many complaints over the years of potential buyers 'stealing' the medicine out of the cabinets. I have never had it happen on my time clock, but to avoid any trouble it's best to simply remove it.
3. All things on your kitchen counter. Everything? Really? Yup. The cleaner you can leave the counter, the more buyers dream of being in there. Have you ever been in a cluttered kitchen? Does it feel inviting? How about a cleaned up kitchen? Does it make you wanna spend time there? Also, if you store things on the counter it gives the appearance that you do not have enough storage space.
2. No more junk drawers. Seriously. Clean 'em out. There is nothing more tacky than a potential buyer opening the cupboards and drawers and having things sticking out everywhere. Box up all the notes, pens, tacks, and odds and ends and put them away. Chances are you don't dig in the drawer often anyways.
1. Nothing but magnets.... and maybe not even that. Take a photo of your fridge, take everything off, wash the front (and side), and take another photo. It is really refreshing to walk into a home that has a clean fridge. The kids pictures are beautiful (believe me... my fridge is covered in them) but buyer's can't imagine their own children's drawing on there if it is covered with yours. And, the magnets... If they aren't decorative (and even then) they are generally more of a distraction to the room than a help. Consider it.
P.S. Check out GreenvilleHomePrices.com for a great new way to see what your home is worth! >>
Keller Williams RED Day Gives Back
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Nothing is better than people extending a helping hand to others and to emulate our year-round work ethic the Keller Williams team, nationwide, spends a day helping our communities in need. Each May on the second Thursday of the month we get together with our team members and follow through with the commitment “Renew, Energize and Donate”.
This year we had a chance to work together at The Generous Garden Project – something that we do not often get to do in today’s busy day and age. In the past we have rebuilt parks, refurbished dilapidated areas needing some TLC, given our time and resources to shelters – and so much more.
Held in honor of our Vice Chairman of the Board Mo Anderson, RED DAY is something that all of us look forward to each year. To find out more about RED DAY, please visit the Keller Williams national website here – you will be inspired by the motivation behind this fantastic cause!
Thank you for your time and I look forward to supporting you in all of your real estate needs!
Four Reasons For Greenville, SC Homeowners to Sell Now
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You probably have heard this phrase before: Real estate is local. In fact, someone wrote a book with this very same title. The important point being that no matter what you hear about the national or global real estate market – it will likely have little to no bearing on a local market. And this holds very true for our marketplace right now.
After several years of being a buyer-centric real estate market, ours has now begun to shift toward the sellers’ favor. The beauty of the current situation, however, is that buyers are still positioned to obtain the best deals of their lifetime with phenomenal interest rates still going strong.
But what does this mean to existing homeowners? It turns out that with the latest shift in market trends, homeowners are at a unique advantage right now – especially those with good homes, in great locations with lots of features that buyers are seeking these days. Our sales continue to increase, indicating changing buyer trends and the resultant lower available inventory.
Are you currently on the fence about whether to sell or not should put their homes on the market? Here are four things you can count on if you list your home today:
Beat Shadow Inventory to the Market
Now that so much of the foreclosure crisis of 2010-2011 is under the bridge, banks are beginning to unload countless properties onto the market. In fact, in Greenville County foreclosure filings have been on the rise recently, unlike the previous few quarters where we were seeing a decline in such filings. Still, bank-owned properties will offer attractive deals to buyers once they hit the market so selling now will help sellers avoid that added competition.
Take Advantage of Buyers’ Buying Power
No one knows how long the current record setting low interest rates will last. But the only way anyone will know they have hit bottom is once rates start to climb again. Right now, buyers are enjoying unprecedented buying power and they realize this will not last forever. As a seller, you will be able to sell efficiently and effectively when you have buyers eager to seize today’s opportunities.
Hit the Market While It Is Still Predictable
Everyone knows that the economy directly impacts the housing market. But do you realize that there are several other factors that can make (or break) the housing market as well? For instance, the presidential elections taking place this year, the European debt crisis under way and a national jobs market that fluctuates regularly. There is no telling how things will be from one quarter to the next and from one season to the next but sellers can count on today’s trends.
Less Selling Competition = More Money In Your Pocket
Since the housing market crashed in 2007/2008, millions of homeowners in America have been watching and waiting for the right time to make any moves. But today, there are fewer homes on the market, amounting to a wave of interest from buyers that feel they must lock in the low interest rates while they can. Many areas are seeing multiple offers and even bidding wars for homes that in great shape and located in desirable locations.
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If you are considering selling, now is absolutely the time to get your home on the market. Contact us today at 864.527.768 or dhamilton@kw.com for a customize consultation about your property.
Tips for Selling Success in Spring Market
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In the real estate market, “spring” usually comes early, with people eager to list their homes as soon as in January to beat the competition as the weeks get closer to March. But if you missed this year’s after-winter opportunity, now’s the next best time to sell. With so many new home shows popping up everywhere on TV, now more than ever, buyers are super savvy so to help you with your home selling endeavor this year we have put together a few tips to get those buyers rolling in.
Make Them Want To Come Inside
Nothing makes a buyer more interested in seeing the property than a gorgeous exterior. Excellent curb appeal does not have to take a lot of time, effort or money but if you do not tend to this essential aspect of selling your home, you could end up losing a lot of potential buyers to the competition.
Curb appeal is simply a matter of maintaining and sprucing up the exterior and entranceway of your home. By cleaning up dirty siding, fixing up post-wintertime yard messes or fixing minor cracks and crevices in the driveway – buyers will be wooed by that inviting first impression. Take the time to add some flowers, put out a warm welcome mat and give buyers an idea of what they can expect when they set foot inside. Not tending to this can make all the difference in the number of offers you may or may not get on your listing.
Once They’re In, Show Off Your Space!
So often sellers are selling a home without realizing that potential buyers have different tastes than their own. The single best way to bridge the divide between one aesthetic sense versus another is to keep things neutral, neat and nice. If you have a bright orange room, a fresh coat of neutral paint may just be the thing needed to attract the right buyer. If there are gorgeous walk-in closets in the home, remove most of the items in the closet so the buyer can visualize their own things in the space.
Fix any things that need repairs, remove the clutter from your home, have it professionally cleaned and then dress it up so you can show it off to the next owner! If there are any cracks in caulking or baseboards, work to get them fixed. Clean up baseboards, remove cobwebs and fix up anything else that may need repairs.
Leave a Lasting Impression
As buyers leave your home and move on to view the next one on their list, it is important that they remember your home. Imagine that your home will be showcased in a magazine. How would you set things up? Would you rearrange your furniture? Remove extra items that are too personal or clutter up the space too much. By giving these things thought and planning how you will present your home, buyers (and agents) that see your home will likely remember it and come back to it after seeing other properties that did not quite meet their standards.
Keep in mind a show-ready home is one that shows off all the features and amenities of the property. When they can see the full potential of the home, buyers are able to imagine living in the space and they are far more likely to put in an offer.
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If you are getting ready to sell once you have worked on its curb appeal and set up the home’s interior ready for showing – it is a good idea to invite your Realtor for a walk-through. Years of experience selling (and buying) homes with clients give them the perfect insight needed. Good luck!
Ten Questions Every Homeowner/Future Homeowner Should Ask An Agent
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As you embark upon what will be one of the most important transactions of your life – whether buying or selling a home – you should be absolutely certain that you are happy with the real estate agent you have hired to help you manage it.
To help you with this all-important hiring process, here are ten important questions to ask an agent before you decide on whether or not to hire them:
Question #1
How Close Do You Get in Sale Price Related to Asking Price?
It is important to ask for this information as it relates to the past 60 days. Given that many agents are not that active in the market, you would be best served to obtain the most recent information possible. As a seller, your agent’s ability to come close to the asking price is a strong attribute and can mean a difference of thousands of dollars in your transaction.
Question #2
How Many Days on Average Does It Take You To Sell a Home?
What’s the average number of days on the market for properties listed by your prospective agent? Since this statistic can reach as high as six to nine months and in some cases and as much as a year, it is important to ask how your prospective agent ranks on the scale.
Question #3
What is the Rate of Homes Sold on a Monthly Basis?
Knowing the absorption rate of homes similar to yours that are on the market allows valuable insight as to how the market is performing for your particular needs. Not only does it give sellers a glimpse into the system and how it would translate to their own sale but it also presents a broader view of the entire market in general.
Question #4
What Do You Do Differently To Get Homes Sold?
Especially with the current trying economic times, many agents have been faced with adversities trying to sell the homes on their list. One of the best ways to learn whether your agent is a self-starter is to find out what they have done in the past when they were unable to successfully sell homes. Ask why the agent feels the home(s) did not sell and then find out what they are doing differently to get them sold.
Question #5
What Percentage of Deals Do You Represent the Buyer Versus Seller?
Some agents work primarily with sellers while others work mostly with buyers and still others are experienced with dual-agency deals. Depending on your needs, you will benefit from an agent that specializes in one of the two. It is important to ask which side of the fence your prospective agent tends to represent.
Questions #6
How Many Homes Did You Sell Last Year?
Nothing speaks louder than numbers. A very important statistic, ask what the total number of homes sold last year was and if possible try to get a more long-term picture of the agent’s performance in this regard. You can also ask for a month-to-month breakdown to see if there are certain stronger months.
Questions #7
Can You Provide a List of the Ten Most Current Clients You Have Worked With?
Rather than rely on the given list of referrals that many agents have handpicked, it’s a good idea to obtain a list of clients that are currently working with this Realtor. It will provide a much-needed glimpse into the agent’s performance on various stages of real estate transactions.
Question #8
How Much of Your Work Day Do You Dedicate to the Real Estate Industry?
You want an agent that is 100% committed to their job and if they are focusing more on a day job with real estate being a secondary thing, you run the risk of inaccessibility, lack of knowledge and experience plus lackluster motivation. Find out how they feel about the real estate industry and whether they are passionate about their work.
Question #9
What is Your Style of Marketing – Proactive or Reactive?
What is your potential agent’s style of working? Does he or she speak to a large number of people each day? Are they proactive or reactive in nature when it comes to marketing? See how this lines up with your real estate needs. Are you in a hurry to buy or sell? Does a laid back agent hinder your efforts? Or does slow and steady work better for you?
Question #10
What Does Your Daily Schedule Look Like?
The typical schedule of a real estate professional can be very telling. By asking for a copy or general idea of how they conduct their day in terms of their work, you can get a good idea of how much time is devoted to the profession and what kind of business they are running.
Very Little Change In Sales Numbers in the Past Two Years Is Great News!
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You may be thinking that sales numbers increasing sounds like great news, not the numbers staying the same, right? But the truth is that when you look at how we did in terms of home sales in 2011 versus the year prior, having similar sales numbers is great news.
Remember all that government intervention that was being hyped back in 2010 when Uncle Sam was doling out large tax credits to first time homebuyers? The desired impact was indeed captured, in that the number of home sales in our area only declined a few percent unlike the same much higher statistic from 2009. To give you an idea of the seemingly innocuous improvement, consider this: 2009 sales numbers were 15.4% lower than the previous year. Numbers in 2010 were only 3.7% lower than the preceding year but that was largely attributed to government tax incentives offered to first time homebuyers. The upward trend is exactly the kind of thing we need to see before we can even begin to think of a real estate recovery.
Sales Numbers Strong Despite Absence of Tax Incentives
Now when you look at our sales last year, you realize that things are looking up because they are very close to the year when homebuyers were receiving tax credits in the several thousand dollars for each home purchase. Considering that there were no such incentives in 2011 yet the same number of homes sold, the trend is very much a positive one.
Home Prices Remain Stable Over Past Two Years
Unprecedented, we witnessed an almost imperceptible change in home prices year over year. The average selling price in 2010 was just $11 more than the same in 2011 at $172,013 in the latter.
Does Declining Inventory Point to Stability in the Future?
Inventory continues to decline as more homes are sold and buyers take advantage of incredible buying opportunities. At a current decline of almost 16%, sellers are impacted with less competition but buyers have fewer homes to choose from at the same time.
Average Number of Days On Market Rises Slightly
Some markets have seen a greater increase on the number of days on average that homes are on the market before they sell but we were lucky to see only about an 8% increase to 113 Days On Market, looking at 2011 versus 2010. Moving into 2012, we can at least expect to see more of the same as 2011 if not an improvement.
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Based on the trends we’re seeing over the past several years, things only seem to get better and better. We are predicting a strong market ahead in the Greenville area with plenty of sales on record, continued low interest rates and hopefully not too much of further decline in housing values.
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