Homes Selling Faster

We've noticed it in our own business.  Homes that we've listed within the past 30 days have received offers and gone under contract in 10 days or less.  This doesn't happen every time, but right now Buyers are out and inventory is low...and you're more likely to see fewer price reductions and more multiple offers.  For more details on this fast-moving market, check out this article from USA Today.

Home Seller Tip: Better is Better

Want to sell your house for more money in less time? Check out this Seller Tip for information on pricing, staging, and making the most of any market!





Ready to put your home on the market?  Give us a call!

Home Seller Tips: Going it alone??

It might be tempting to save some money by trying to sell your house on your own, but consider this: almost one third of all sales come from agent-to-agent or past client referrals. 

Ready, Set, SELL! Reasons to List Your House NOW.

We hear it all the time.

"We're going to wait to list our house in Spring."

"There's not as many people looking to buy right now, so we'll wait a few more months."

Nooooo!  Don't wait!  The time is NOW and let me break it down for you:


1.  Serious Buyers:  There may be fewer of them, but the ones that are out there are very serious about making a purchase...they are there to buy.
2.  Less Competition:  The current inventory of homes for sale in the KC area is at a 5 year low.  Because there are so many people out there with the "We'll wait 'til Spring" mentality, that means there is fewer competition in your local market than any other time of the year.
3.  Interest Rates:  Today's interest rates are still low, giving buyers more spending power and you the same advantage when you begin shopping for your next home.

6 Tips to Selling Your Home During the Winter Months

If your home will be for sale over the winter months, it's important to address those issues that occur more often during this time of year than any other.

1. Shine on:  This should be happening regardless what time of year it is, but with the shorter and often cloudy days during the winter months, it's even more important.  Turn on every single light in the house, including closets, pantries, and hallways.  Don't forget the outdoor porch and patio lights as well.
2. Keep it clear:  No one wants to climb over huge snow drifts or drudge through 3 feet of snow to get to the front door.  Shovel your driveway and keep a clear path from the driveway to the front door.
3. Welcome mat:  Have a mat or an area rug by the front door for visitors to wipe their feet.  Provide disposable slippers and a bench to make it even easier to remove or put on their shoes or boots.
4. Keep odors at bay:  Homes tend to get stuffier during the winter months, which can be a turn-off to buyers if the odors build up.  Clean more frequently, change the litter box every day, and avoid strong cooking odors.
5. Look festive:  Enjoy the holiday decorations...many buyers find them welcoming and it can help make the home look cheerful during the winter months.
6. Keep it comfy:  There's no need to overheat buyers, since most will be walking through with their coats on anyway.  Keep the temperature at 65-68 degrees for showings.

Selling your home...beating the odds in a buyer's market: Home Improvements

If you're thinking of listing your home, bookmark our blog and don't miss this series.  Over the past few weeks, we've introduce you to some statistics and tips to help you view your house not as your home, but as the future home of the buyer you need to attract.  Our first topic was Pricing to Sell Your Home...then it was all about Curb Appeal.  Now, we're talking about Home Improvements.  So click here for the scoop!

Selling your home...beating the odds in a buyer's market: Curb Appeal

If you're thinking of listing your home, bookmark our blog and don't miss this series.  Over the next few weeks, we'll introduce you to some statistics and tips to help you view your house not as your home, but as the future home of the buyer you need to attract.  Our first topic was Pricing to Sell Your Home...this week, it's all about Curb Appeal.  So here's the skinny!

KW Research shows that approximately 47% of sellers enhance their curb appeal.  Most spend between $150-1000 to make those first few seconds count for buyers who may be driving by or checking out photos  online.  What do they do?

• 73% trim trees and bushes
• 54% mulch
• 51% bring in new plants
• 44% wash windows
• 40% power wash
• 23% add a fresh coat of exterior paint
• 11% add new door hardware

For those sellers that DID enhance their curb appeal...

• Had excellent results compared to only 68% of home without enhancements
• Received their first offer 6 days faster
• Sold 7 days faster...
• ...for 1.23 percentage points higher in the list-to-sell percent

In other words, first impressions really DO count!  :)

Selling your home...beating the odds in a buyer's market: Pricing to Sell

Now that school is out and summer is almost officially here, you'll start to see more and more homes pop up for sale.  Unfortunately, not all sellers will know how to make the most of today's market.  If you're thinking of listing your home, bookmark our blog and don't miss this series.  Over the next few weeks, we'll introduce you to some statistics and tips to help you view your house not as your home, but as the future home of the buyer you need to attract.  So let's get started!

Sellers can still get the highest possible list-to-sell ratio and sell their homes as quickly as possible if they are willing to put their trust in two time-tested principles of real estate:  condition and price.  These are the only two factors that sellers have control over, and they are the only two that buyers will care about the most.

Let's take a look at the top 10 pricing considerations first.

1. Buyer motivation - 75%
2. Condition of Home - 73%
3. School district - 66%
4. Updates/Upgrades - 62%
5. Seller motivation - 59%
6. Location - 59%
7. Features of home - 54%
8. Recently sold comps - 54%
9. Inventory - 44%
10. Price per square foot - 41%

As you can see, sellers have control over three: condition, updates, and price per square foot.  And this is where your agent is key...work with them to establish the most competitive price.  Here's why:

Based on Keller Williams Reasearch, 48% of Sellers priced their home according to their agent's interpretation of its market value.  As a result, the listing:

• Sold after 56 days on the market compared to 105 and sold 49 days faster.
• Sold for 6.7 percentage points higher in the list-to-sell ratio.  In other words, for a home listed at $200,000, that resulted in a list price-to-sell ratio of 96% vs. 89%.  That's a difference of $13,400!
• Sold for at least 1 less price reduction

Price your house right the first time and save yourself time and money!



Three Savvy Strategies to Selling Your Home

Today's market is more of a buyer's market, meaning that there are more homes for sale right now than there are buyers.  Homes typically take longer to sell and prices can fall.  If you want to make sure that your home sells faster and for a higher list-to-sell percentage, then follow these steps:

1. Prepare the property to sell.  
• Consider a prelist home inspection to address any possible issues before your house goes on the market and take care of any repairs that may be needed.  This will eliminate any surprises later on.  
• Upgrades always attract buyers...the most common include flooring, paint, light fixtures, appliances, and plumbing hardware.
• On average, staged homes had 2 more showings and sold for a significantly higher list-to-sale percentage than homes that were not staged.  This is more true for homes at a higher listing price.  The most commonly staged rooms are the living room, kitchen, and master bedroom.
2. Price the property to sell.
• The top factors when pricing your home are recently sold comps, active comps, condition of home and your motivation.  Even price per square foot and age of the home can play a role.
• Listen to your Realtor's [my ;)] advice.  Sellers who followed Keller Williams associate's recommended price sold their homes 38 days faster.  This translates to a savings of $1101.31 for a seller who originally bought their $200,000 home with 20% down and an interest rate of 6.5%.
3. Present the property to buyers.
• Put yourself in the buyers' shoes.  Believe it or not, 90% of buyers report using the Internet as a tool to search for homes that were for sale.  And the buyers first impression are the pictures of your home.  Before the Realtor takes photos of your home for the listing, take some yourself of each room in your home.  How does your home look to you?  If you're not impressed, the buyers won't be either.  If you can't afford a stager, use the photos as a tool to see where your opportunities lie...clear out the clutter, dust, paint, etc.  Your agent can help you in this area as well.
• The top marketing tools we at Pickett Property Group use include: MLS, for sale signs, online placement (Trulia, Realtor.com, Craigslist to name a few), Open Houses, web listings with virtual tours, fliers, feedback forms, email, social media (our Blog, Twitter, Facebook), and QR codes.
• Improve your curb appeal.  Most buyers will drive by to view the home after seeing your listing online.  So your curb appeal needs to draw potential buyers to want to see the inside of your home as well.  Things like trimming bushes, adding fresh mulch or new landscaping, power-washing, washing windows, painting the exterior, updating door hardware, and even planting new sod can make a huge impact.

What does all of this mean for you?  By applying these 3 strategies, it could potentially translate into more money in your pocket at closing time.

When you're ready to sell your home, contact us for a professional, yet straight-forward presentation.  We put YOU first!

Home Seller Tips: Condition

When putting your house on the market, everyone wants their home to sell quickly...for top dollar and in the least amount of time possible.  Yes, pricing and staging are obvious factors and key elements to do just that.  But there is one more tip to help your home get noticed and sold fast.  Check out the video below to learn more....

The Real Estate Market in 2011

Everyone is wanting to know what is going to happen in real estate in the new year.  Unfortunately, there is no way to predict one way or another, but there are signs out there indicating that the market is improving.  Take a look at these recent statistics:

According to the National Association of Realtor, pending home sales rose 3.5% in November.  Based on trends from the 5 months prior, this is indicating a gradual recovery into 2011.  Affordable housing and the improvements in the economy are bringing buyers into the market.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is forecast to rise gradually to 5.3% around the end of 2011; at the same time, unemployment should drop to 9.2%.

Existing-home sales are projected to rise about 8% to 5.2 million in 2011 from 4.8 million in 2010, with an additional gain of 4% in 2012. The median existing-home price could rise 0.6% to $173,700 in 2011 from $172,700 in 2010, which was essentially unchanged from 2009.


New-home sales are estimated to rise 24% to 392,000 in 2011, but would remain well below historic averages, while housing starts are forecast to rise 21% to 716,000.

While I can't guarantee any of these expectations, I can guarantee that if you are a motivated seller or buyer, WE are your motivated Realtors.  Pickett Property Group is in this business to move houses...whether you are buying or selling.  We will help you achieve your goals.  Contact us today!

Top 8 Projects to Add Value to Your Home

Whether you're looking to update your home or get it ready to put on the market, you will see a return on your investment with some projects more than others.  Not all of these may be necessary or financially reasonable in your situation, but if you're ready to tackle those home improvement projects consider some of these:

1. Remodel your kitchen.  It may be time to get rid of those old avocado, white, or yellow appliances and replace them with something more modern.  Updating appliances and countertops and resurfacing cabinets is one of the best ways to add value to your home.
2. Add a garage.  Though costly, homes with at least two garages are more appealing to home buyers.
3. Remodel your bathroom.  Consider replacing old light fixtures, add a fresh coat of paint, and consider updating the flooring or adding a Jacuzzi tub.  All of these will help add value as well.
4. Install the right flooring material.  Wood and ceramic tile flooring are all popular now.  If you know you have wood floors under your carpet, consider pulling the carpet and freshening the wood flooring underneath before putting your house on the market.
5. Increase curb appeal.  Your house only has a few seconds to make a great first impression so make it count.  Does the outside of the house need repainting?  Is the landscaping free of weeds and well-kept?  Add some potted plants and flowers to brighten things up.
6. Add natural light and open up the space.  Another costly project, but many home buyers like open, cheery floorplans.  Too many walls can close a space in.  See where you can add windows or patio doors and consider knocking out walls to open your home. (ex: a wall between your kitchen and dining room).
7. Apply a fresh coat of paint.  Paint can make a home look brand new, but bold colors may turn off potential buyers.  Stick with something neutral.
8. Clean up clutter.  Take out unnecessary furniture and clean out the clutter inside and outside the home.  Keep it simple.

Before I list a home, I look at these things and review with the seller what items they should consider doing  to help sell their home within a reasonable timeframe and at the best price.  Most times, the projects can be completed over a weekend and cost little out of pocket.  When you are ready to list your home or if you have any questions, feel free to contact us.  We're here to help!