We brokers see it all the time as we are showing houses.Sellers who have spent quite a bit of money and time on landscaping, a water feature, painting cabinets, etc. that may actually work against getting the house sold.The seller anticipates that buyers will love "it" and buy their house.If I co
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12/07/2015
I was out showing houses over the weekend. First time buyers all pumped up and ready to buy.They didn’t make an offer on any of the houses we looked at.The sellers had probably engaged good brokers to represent them.But the sellers had failed to hire “this” person.Who is “this” person?It is a pro
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12/07/2015
I’m not referring to paranormal ghosts.I’m referring to the interpersonal "ghosting" - the act of suddenly shutting out someone out and not communicating.Maybe your house had some showings the first week or so and now – zip, zilch, nada.What happened?If your showings have dropped off and potentia
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12/04/2015
First, let me say I’m fanatical about this which is why I don’t understand agents who don’t do it.Once your house is for sale in the MLS, monitor your competition.Don’t just look at the competition in your own subdivision.What can someone who can afford your house buy within a 5 to 15 mile radius
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12/04/2015
Here is part one if you missed it.You are trying to “get your face on” in the morning and the mirror is all steamed up. Frustrating!Municipal codes generally allow a builder to forgo installing a vent fan if there is a window in a bathroom. But in reality, how many of us are going to open the win
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12/03/2015
I talk to people who want to do some upgrades now that they can enjoy for several years and that may add some value when they sell.When it comes to bathrooms, there are upgrades that most people don’t think of, or think is harder than it really is, that can make getting ready in the morning a bet
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12/03/2015
It's a common problem.Owner’s want to sell their house only to discover that buyers aren’t interested because the garage is too small.Usually the problem is that the garage isn’t deep enough.The owner typically owned a smaller car when they bought the house so they didn’t give it a second thought
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12/02/2015
I was recently consulting with a family that wanted to update their house for sale.One thing that was hindering their plans were the wall to wall bookshelves. They had them filled with every book they’ve bought since college. But the reality is there were only a few they ever refer to or might re
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12/02/2015
Ask any real estate professional about Zillow, Trulia, Redfin or any other site that offers an estimate of a home’s value or a “Home Value Tool,” and at the least you will get an eye roll, or more likely an extensive discourse on why these estimates are inaccurate.Real estate professionals have v
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12/02/2015
I see home owners or sellers who put up with poor windows because they can’t afford or don’t want to spend the money to upgrade all the windows.It may seem like a “duh” but I see so many houses where just replacing one window or a few windows can make a significant difference in quality of life.I
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12/02/2015
