What's New Before Thanksgiving

Showings at last minute - Kat's philosophy
Well, most buyers and sellers are preparing for Thanksgiving along with those who aren't planning a move right now. So, there won't be quite as many showings this weekend and next. However, there are SERIOUS buyers looking for homes YEAR ROUND. So, if someone does ask to see your home this weekend, I would JUMP THROUGH HOOPS to accomodate. You never know when the "right buyer" will walk through your front door, so try to allow all showings.

Unless your home is overly fragrant from a meal made of curry or is filthy due to messy guests or family, let people in! And if it is not quite "show-ready", ask for 15 minutes to make it presentable then clean up the biggest mess and leave the rest. Most folks LIVE in their houses and will understand - especially if their agent did not have foresight to call ahead.

Settling on what's available / Getting what you WANT
Did you GET what you WANTED when it came to a wedding location or apartment or were you required to take what was available, without regard to needs and dreams? The real estate market is GREAT for Buyers right now. There is more inventory in the Montgomery MLS than there has been in a very long time. This means you have more homes to choose from! The majority of the homes are priced between $170,000 and $220,000 so if you are prequalified for any number in this price range, you've got your work cut out for you! To help you narrow down the list and save time looking at only homes you'll love, get pickier on your first few showings. Think about "deal breakers" such as: two-story, no carport, no yard, undesirable location for schools or job commute... Pick homes that meet all your criteria "needs" and "wishes/dreams" to see first. If you don't like any of them, then you can get a little lenient on some facets of your next home. OR if you have a little time on your hands, then get a REALTOR(R) who is willing to WORK for you! If you know EXACTLY which neighborhood you want to be in, then choose a REALTOR(R) who will talk to neighborhood residents and find out who might be convinced to sell. You'd be surprised! A REALTOR (R) who isn't afraid and has time to knock on doors and meet people in your desired neighborhood may be able to save you money and get you what you need!

SELLING A HOME IN A COMPETITIVE MARKET
This is a competitive time for Sellers. You might have a gorgeous home with all the up-to-date appliances and color schemes, but is it getting seen? How do you ensure your home is seen by 85% of all qualified buyers? PRICE IT RIGHT! You might think, well I can lower my price in a month or two if I don't get a reasonable offer by then. BUT in the first 4 weeks, which is the most crucial time to have your home correctly priced, you might have missed the buyer who was ready to make a move on your home! Think about it.... Let's say your opinion is that your home is worth $300,000, so you price it for $310,000 to give negotiating room. Buyers are looking for homes in the price range they can afford. Your home will be compared with homes priced from $285,000 to $325,000 because some buyers will be preapproved above $310K and others might not be. But with luck, they'll look at your home anyway. Now your home is being compared against homes that are more expensive, and probably have extra amenities that your home doesn't - otherwise, you'd price your home even higher!
Example: Buyer 1 is approved for $325K and they look at your home to see if it has what they are looking for but they find it is not quite as nice as the home around the corner. Now they decide if they want to make a concession to save money, or not. In this price range, most buyers are inclined to get every bell and whistle they can afford. YOU'LL MISS OUT!
Buyer 2 is approved for $305K and they tell their REALTOR(R) not to show them any home priced above their budget, and they'd prefer to look at homes priced under $300. YOU MISSED OUT!

If you are selling a home in the Montgomery Tri-County or Lake Martin area, you need to call me. I have worked in competive markets and in every case my residential home sellers have received offers within 30 days of listing. So - call me if you are READY TO SELL your home!