Selling and listing houses isn’t easy. It’s a job that takes a ton of hard work and eats up lots of time. Realtors certainly don’t work the 9-5 beat! Successful agents go the extra yard to make a transaction a good one, whether working with the buyer, seller, or both.
But there are always those clients that seem to know how to throw a monkey wrench in the works. They’re frustrating and can make you angry, especially if you feel as if they’re sabotaging a deal or ruining your working relationship.
Sometimes, these clients just don’t know any better, and it’s up to us – the agents – to try to educate them on the rudiments of buying and selling and on the importance of the relationship between client and agent. If you don’t take the time to do
Staging a home that’s for sale in hopes of providing a more cohesive and enticing look used to be something reserved for high-end home sales. Realtors would recommend an expert in staging, and that person would use the owner’s belongings and/or bring in other furnishings and accessories to complete an attractive picture that would help these elegant homes sell in a timely manner.
These days, however, upscale sellers aren’t the only ones who employ the services of a staging professional or – at least – employ the techniques used by someone who works as a stager. With the internet at our fingers, it’s possible to garner some essential staging tips by merely doing a little searching on the web and, as such, it provides sellers with the opportunity to
Whether you’ve just invested in a brand-new home with a huge backyard and can’t wait to spruce it up for family and friends, or even if you’ve always had an ample backyard but were never quite sure what to do with all the space, summer is the perfect time to think about outdoor activities. How many of us can’t wait to get outdoors when the weather is nice? And, often, we can enjoy that outdoor time straight into the fall. That’s why making your yard family-friendly is money well spent for all seasons!
Perhaps you’ve got a few ideas, and maybe you’ve already got a pool or other backyard perks. But did you know that outdoor game areas are one of the biggest trends of the year? And, furthermore, they can be tailored to please both kids and adults. And
In the United States, there are tens of thousands of real estate agents. Not all are full-time agents. Many people “dabble” in real estate while others work hard to support their families. Some are quite good at what they do while others continue to struggle, even in good markets.
So, what’s the difference between a highly-successful agent and one that continues to flounder? Often, the answer comes in one word: commitment. And with that commitment comes a number of habits that, if employed regularly, can help an agent increase their success exponentially.
Be Responsive
A top-notch agent communicates with clients often and effectively.
You need to be willing to spend some time on the old telephone! A successful agent responds to
Is your house very 1970s? Are you stuck in the last decade? Do you know you need an update but aren't sure what to do to make your home look stylish and fresh as a daisy?
Well, the folks at Houzz – a website made up of a community of more than 40 million homeowners, home design enthusiasts and home improvement professionals from around the world – have looked carefully at the trends that are…well, uh….trending for the new year, and have compiled a list of the most happenin' crazes for 2019.
So, if you're looking to make some changes, here's a short list of what's hot and what's not.
A Tiled “Feature” Wall in the Kitchen
While we've gotten used to "accent walls" in other rooms, created by adding a particularly bold color to just one wall,
Pick up your remote control and scan through your favorite cable TV channels and you’re sure to find at least 2 or 3 different shows that tout the advantages of building and living in what has become known as a “tiny house”.
The hosts of these shows chat with us via the television camera about all the advantages of tiny house living and joke with the new owners about their new lack of space, scaling down, and all the good things they’re doing for the environment by moving into these minuscule mansions.
Perhaps you dismiss the idea with a shake of the head and a roll of your eyes. Or maybe you watch intently, thinking “we could do that”. Hmmm….
If you’ve ever given even a fleeting thought to living in a tiny house, there’s much more to know
What realtor wouldn’t love to nab a piece of the luxury market? Just imagine those commissions! Think about it. Just one or two checks could have you living “high on the hog”, help you pay those private school tuition bills, and send you on your next amazing vacation.
But tackling the luxury real estate market isn’t easy…and you should never expect it to be. Those who enter the luxury market expecting it to be no different than the “normal” market are in for a lot of surprises. Listing and selling a luxury home is a whole different ball game, so to speak, and you need to make sure you’re prepared for the curve balls or you’ll be in for plenty of disappointment…and so will the clients who hire you, if you manage to acquire any.
You love your dogs and cats but now that it’s time to sell your home, you’re worried about how you will manage showings and other scenarios that go along with a home sale. You’re also concerned about the wellbeing of your pet and how they will react to the hordes of people coming through your house to determine whether it’s the one for them. And then there are the tell-tale signs that you own a pet. How do you handle those?
Selling with pets doesn’t have to be stressful, however. There are a number of things you can do in advance to make your pet-friendly home buyer-friendly.
Following these five tips will help you on your way to a quicker sale, resulting in a price that makes everyone happy.
With adults over the age of 50 representing nearly a quarter of the U.S. population, more and more realtors find themselves working with older Americans, either in the selling or buying process…or both. While being over 50 certainly doesn’t represent being “old,” as individuals start to creep towards their 60s and 70s, they begin to view things differently, including homeownership and what it is they’re looking for in that place they will call “home” during their golden years.
Indeed, for older adults, “home” can mean several different things. For some, there will be little or no change in the status quo. Many are happy with where and how they live now and are intent on keeping things the same. Some will look to downsize. Others will look for a
The condominium. If you’re young, you’ve always known that word, but if you’re a little further up in years, you can likely remember a world without condominiums.
Though historians say there were condo-type properties built in New York City as early as the 1880s, the word “condominium” was likely not used to describe those properties. The first modern condominium complex, real estate experts agree, was one called Graystone Manor, built in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1960. It was much the same as what we still call a condo today – a collection of private living spaces in one (or more) buildings, with common spaces and amenities for all to use. Condo owners paid monthly fees to a governing body, known as a Homeowner’s Association.
