Tag: staging a home

‘Tis the Season: 5 Reasons Why Winter is a Great Time to Buy or Sell a Home

It’s a common misconception that you shouldn’t try to buy or sell a home during the fall and winter months.

This is generally considered the “offseason” in real estate. Many sellers mistakenly believe that the cold weather will keep buyers away and that no one is looking over the holidays. Unfortunately, many real estate professionals perpetuate this myth by advising their clients to “wait until the spring” to list their home.

The truth is, homes are bought and sold year round. And while the market is typically quieter during the fall and winter, savvy buyers and sellers know how to use this slow down to their advantage. In fact, depending on your circumstances, now may be the ideal time for you to purchase or list a home.

If you’re in the market to buy or sell, there’s no need to wait for the spring. Read on to discover the top five reasons that it can pay to buy or sell a home during the offseason! 

  1. LESS COMPETITION

What’s the number one reason to buy or sell a home during the offseason? Less competition!

This can be particularly beneficial if you’re a seller. Come spring, a huge wave of new listings will hit the market. But if you list now, you will have fewer comparable homes with which to compete.

In the spring and summer months, it can be difficult for your property to stand out in a crowded market. You may end up with a surplus of homes for sale in your neighborhood. Indeed, it’s not uncommon to see multiple listings on a single street during the peak selling season.

Inventory in the fall and winter months, however, can be significantly lower. That means your home will not only receive more attention from buyers, but you may also gain the upper hand in your negotiations. In fact, research found that homes listed in the winter are nine percent more likely to sell, and sellers net more above asking price in the winter than any other time of year.1

Buyers also have a lot to love about the real estate offseason. While some buyers need to move during the winter, many bargain hunters search this time of year in hopes of scoring a great deal.

Smart buyers will continue to scan the market during the fall and winter for hidden gems that pop up during the offseason. There are always highly motivated sellers who need to sell quickly. And with less competition to bid against you, you’re in a better position to negotiate a great price. If you’ve been looking for a good deal on a home or investment property, now may be the best time to look!

So while a “slow market” may scare off some buyers and sellers, it can actually be the perfect time of year for you to list or purchase a home. While the rest of the market is hibernating until spring, take advantage of this opportunity to get a jump start on your competition!

  1. EVERYONE’S MORE MOTIVATED

During the spring and summer, you’re likely to encounter “lookie-loo” buyers who are just testing the waters and unrealistic sellers who are holding out for a better offer. But the serious buyers and sellers stay active during the cold weather and holiday season, often because they need to move quickly. In fact, research shows that homes listed in the winter sell faster than any other time of year.1

January and February are peak job hiring months, which brings a surge of buyers who need to relocate quickly to start a new job.2And of course life changes like retirement, marriage, divorce, and new babies come year round. While families often find it more convenient to move during the summer when school is out, the reality is that many don’t have the option to wait. According to the National Association of Realtors, 55 percent of all buyers purchased their home at the time they did because “it was just the right time,” not because of seasonal factors.3

If you prefer to deal with serious, highly-motivated buyers and sellers who want to act fast and don’t want to waste your time, then the offseason may be the perfect real estate season for you.

  1. GREATER PERSONAL ATTENTION

Another key benefit to buying and selling in the offseason is the increased personal attention you’ll receive.

While we strive to provide unparalleled client service throughout the year, we simply have more time available for each individual client during slower periods. Similarly, we find the other real estate professionals in our network—including title agents, inspectors, appraisers, insurance agents, and loan officers—are able to respond faster and provide more time and attention during the offseason than they are during the busy spring and summer months. The result is a quicker and more streamlined closing process for all involved.

  1. COST SAVINGS

Clients who move during the offseason often report significant cost savings. Moving costs may be discounted by 15 percent or more during the winter months, and moving companies can typically offer more flexibility in their scheduling.4

Home renovations and repairs can also be less expensive in the offseason.5 Whether you’re fixing up your property prior to listing it or remodeling your new home before moving in, contractors and service providers who are hungry for business are often willing to work for a discount this time of year. If you wait until the spring and summer, you may be forced to pay a premium.

Home stagers and decorators are also more likely to negotiate their fees during the winter. And you can often score great deals on new furniture and decor during the holiday sales.

Whether you’re buying or selling, count cost savings as another compelling reason to consider an offseason move.

  1. EASIER TO MAINTAIN CURB APPEAL

Finally, listing your home during the fall and winter offers one key—but often overlooked—advantage: less lawn maintenance!

Good curb appeal is crucial when selling your home. According to a recent report by the National Association of Realtors, 44 percent of home buyers drove by a property after viewing it online but did NOT go inside for a walkthrough.6That means if your curb appeal is lacking, buyers may never make it through the door.

If you list your home during the peak of the selling season, we will generally advise you to implement a frequent schedule of mowing, edging, watering, weeding, and trimming shrubs and hedges. You’ll probably want to plant flowers, as well, to brighten your exterior. After all, a lush landscape is a key element in attracting spring and summer buyers.

If you list in the offseason, however, your lawn maintenance list is significantly reduced. While we do recommend that our sellers keep their exterior clean, tidy, and free of leaves, snow, and ice, you will probably spend much less time on outdoor maintenance during the winter than you would if you listed your home in the summer.

ARE YOU READY TO MAKE YOUR MOVE?

Now that you know all the great reasons to buy or sell a home in the offseason, it’s time to decide whether you’re ready to make your move.

Every client’s circumstances are unique. Whether you needto move quickly or you simply wantto take advantages of all benefits this season has to offer, it’s a great time to enter the market.

Give us a call today to schedule a FREE consultation … and you could be ringing in the New Year in your new home!

 

 

Sources:

  1. Redfin –
    https://www.redfin.com/blog/2013/12/why-winter-is-the-hottest-time-to-sell-your-home.html#.VjKYm2SrTKI
  2. Top Resume –
    https://www.topresume.com/career-advice/the-best-times-of-the-year-to-job-search
  3. National Association of Realtors –
    https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics/research-reports/highlights-from-the-profile-of-home-buyers-and-sellers
  4. Angie’s List –
    https://www.angieslist.com/articles/why-winter-can-be-best-time-move.htm
  5. Build Direct –
    https://www.builddirect.com/blog/the-best-times-of-the-year-to-get-deals-on-home-remodels/
  6. National Association of Realtors –
    https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/reports/2017/2017-home-buyer-and-seller-generational-trends-03-07-2017.pdf

Cómo aumentar el valor de su hogar para vender

1303 SPRING CITY COURT
HOUSTON, TX 77090

Cómo aumentar el valor de su hogar para vender

Ya sea que ponga su casa en el mercado este año o en los próximos cinco años, es una decisión inteligente comenzar a construir el valor de su casa ahora. Estas son algunas formas de crear un hogar cómodo y, al mismo tiempo, facilitar el ingreso de más dinero en su cuenta bancaria el día del cierre.

Pequeñas reparaciones y mantenimiento.

Si piensa que el mantenimiento del hogar los fines de semana pierde su tiempo y energía, piénselo nuevamente. Las pequeñas tareas que realiza en su hogar evitan que pierda valor. Si se descuida el mantenimiento y las reparaciones pequeñas, el 10% del valor de su hogar saldrá de su puerta. La mayoría de los tasadores afirman que las casas que muestran poco o ningún mantenimiento preventivo pueden depreciarse de $ 15,000 a $ 20,000.

Un estudio realizado por investigadores de la Universidad de Connecticut y la Universidad de Syracuse muestra que el mantenimiento regular aumenta el valor de su hogar en aproximadamente un 1% por año. Sin embargo, los costos continuos de mantenimiento compensan ese valor, lo que significa que el mantenimiento regular en realidad reduce la tasa de depreciación. Además, debido a que los compradores de vivienda generalmente notan las reparaciones necesarias al comprar una casa nueva, el mantenimiento proactivo le permite al comprador saber que no tendrá que gastar dinero extra para mantener lo básico. Esto hace que su hogar sea más atractivo y, por lo tanto, es más probable que obtenga ofertas a precios más altos.

Mantener lo básico puede costarle poco dinero y, ciertamente, algo de esfuerzo, pero hay una manera de realizar esta importante actividad de manera inteligente. Este artículo de HouseLogic, por ejemplo, le muestra cómo mantener el mantenimiento del hogar por debajo de los $ 300 al año. Planear con anticipación también ayudará a facilitar el mantenimiento de su hogar. La mayoría de los tasadores profesionales y agentes de bienes raíces recomiendan un programa de mantenimiento proactivo que incluya:

  • Mantener suficiente efectivo a la mano para reemplazar sistemas y materiales.
  • Creación y seguimiento de un programa de mantenimiento.
  • Planificación de una habitación rehacer cada año.
  • Manteniendo un cuaderno de todos sus mantenimientos y reparaciones.
  • Paisajismo

La Extensión Cooperativa de Virginia en Virginia Tech publicó un estudio que muestra que el paisajismo puede aumentar el valor de una casa en un 15%. El estudio afirma que una casa valorada en $ 150,000 podría aumentar su valor entre $ 8,300 y $ 19,000 con la adición de paisajismo. Elementos particulares del paisaje añaden valor diferente. Por ejemplo, el diseño del paisaje puede aumentar el valor de su hogar en un 42%, el tamaño de la planta puede aumentar el valor de su hogar en un 32% y la diversidad de plantas puede aumentar el valor de su hogar en un 22%.

Reemplazar puertas de entrada

Si las puertas de entrada son de madera, considere cambiarlas por puertas de fibra de vidrio o de acero. Las puertas de acero agregan estilo e interés arquitectónico a su hogar al tiempo que mejoran la seguridad; puede agregar un cerrojo y teclados electrónicos para evitar la entrada de intrusos. A diferencia de las puertas de madera, las puertas de acero no se pudren ni se astillan.

Alternativamente, las puertas de fibra de vidrio se pueden diseñar para que se parezcan a las puertas de madera y le den a su hogar un aspecto moderno. Las puertas de fibra de vidrio conservan más energía que las puertas de acero.

En lo que respecta al precio, una puerta de acero le costará $ 1,335 con un 91% de retorno de la inversión, mientras que una puerta de fibra de vidrio le costará $ 3,126 con un 82.3% de retorno de la inversión.

Reemplazo de la puerta del garaje

Al principio, es posible que no piense que la puerta de su garaje aumenta el valor de su hogar. Sin embargo, la puerta de su garaje distingue su hogar de los otros hogares en su bloque. Como la entrada más grande de una casa, las puertas de los garajes se notan primero porque son el punto focal de su casa. Si desea aumentar rápidamente el valor de reventa de su hogar, necesita aprovechar al máximo este espacio.

Algunas cosas interesantes que se hacen con puertas de garaje incluyen:

  • Mayor tamaño: las puertas de garaje más grandes ayudan a que las casas se destaquen más, y los propietarios de viviendas pueden hacer más creativamente con ellas.
  • Colores audaces: los colores brillantes y audaces ahora pueden complementar el color de su hogar, o puede crear un concepto alrededor del color de su hogar.
  • Faux Wood: puede instalar puertas de garaje de fibra de vidrio o acero que parecen puertas de garaje de madera. Esto le da a su hogar un nuevo nivel de sofisticación.
  • Ventanas: las ventanas grandes en la puerta de su garaje mejoran la estética de su hogar y brindan luz en su garaje para que ya no sea un espacio oscuro.

Más importante aún, un reemplazo de la puerta del garaje le costará $ 1,652 y agregará $ 1,512 al valor de su hogar; Eso es un retorno de su inversión de 91.5%.

Aislamiento de fibra de vidrio en el ático

Si bien la eficiencia energética aún no es el punto de venta más atractivo de su hogar, la instalación de aislamiento de fibra de vidrio en el ático ahorra energía y le proporciona una gran recompensa a su inversión. Según el informe de tendencias principales Costo vs. Valor de Remodeling Magazine de 2016, el aislamiento de fibra de vidrio del ático obtuvo el mayor retorno de la inversión entre los 30 proyectos del informe de este año. Usando Remodel / Max como la fuente de costos, un proyecto de aislamiento de fibra de vidrio para áticos cuesta $ 1,268 en todo el país. Los profesionales inmobiliarios encuestados estimaron que el trabajo aumentaría el precio de una casa en reventa, dentro del año de su finalización, en $ 1,482. Eso es un 116.9% de retorno sobre la inversión.

Reemplazo de Windows

Reemplazar sus ventanas es otra forma de ahorrar energía y aumentar el valor de reventa de su hogar. Reemplazar sus viejas ventanas con modelos de ahorro de energía embellecerá su hogar, lo mantendrá cómodo y facilitará la carga de trabajo de su sistema de HVAC. Según HGTV, verá una reducción en su factura de servicios públicos entre un 7% y un 15%. Sin embargo, si está vendiendo su casa, podría esperar una recuperación de su inversión del 60% al 70%. Los dos tipos de ventanas de reemplazo que traen el mejor retorno son vinilo y madera.

Remodelando tu cocina

La remodelación de la cocina puede ser costosa, pero las pequeñas renovaciones pueden hacer que su hogar sea más fácil para el comprador. Cambiar la textura y el color de su cocina con un acabado mate y colores neutros como masilla o gris mejora el valor de reventa de su hogar. Debido a que los acabados mate tienen cualidades de transición, su potencial comprador de casa puede igualar fácilmente sus electrodomésticos de acero inoxidable o blanco y negro. Además, el reacabado de gabinetes o el cambio a los electrodomésticos Energy Star ™ brindan la comodidad que usted desea y el gusto de los compradores.

El flujo es importante para cualquier diseño interior de una casa. Si sientes que tu cocina dificulta un buen flujo, cámbiala. Una pequeña inversión para derribar un muro no estructural o remover una isla de cocina crea espacio y proporciona el flujo que los compradores adoran.

Una remodelación de la cocina de menor importancia puede costarle $ 20,122 mientras que pone $ 16,716 de valor de reventa en su hogar; eso es un 83% de devolución en el proyecto. Si desea hacer un modelo de cocina importante, esto le puede costar alrededor de $ 60,000 y poner alrededor de $ 39,000 de valor de reventa en su hogar, lo que representa solo un 65% de reembolso en el proyecto. Por lo tanto, considere una remodelación de cocina menor primero.

Adición o remodelación de baños

Asimismo, considere cuidadosamente agregar un baño o remodelar su baño. Cambiar las puertas de la ducha de vidrio esmerilado por puertas de vidrio, limpiar la lechada, reemplazar la ducha y los azulejos del piso, cambiar el fregadero o el inodoro o reemplazar los accesorios del lavabo y la ducha puede costarle poco dinero.

Agregar un baño puede ser costoso, pero puede reducir la congestión durante los tiempos agitados y proporcionar a sus invitados un baño. Consulte con su agente de bienes raíces o con un tasador local antes de decidir si una remodelación completa o una adición es adecuada para su situación. Mientras que la remodelación de un baño le costará alrededor de $ 18,000 con un retorno de la inversión de aproximadamente el 66%, la adición de un baño le costará aproximadamente $ 42,000 con un retorno de la inversión de aproximadamente el 56%. Por lo tanto, es mejor hacer su diligencia debida antes de trabajar en su baño.

Sus necesidades y deseos de los compradores

En esa nota, si necesita renovar su casa, asegúrese de considerar cómo esos cambios afectarán su atractivo para los futuros compradores. Conocer las tendencias de diseño le dará la oportunidad de realizar cambios en su hogar en función de dónde se intersectan sus necesidades y los deseos de su comprador potencial, lo que aumentará drásticamente el valor de reventa de su propiedad.

Los diseñadores y los sitios web de diseño ofrecen excelentes ideas cuando está realizando una lluvia de ideas sobre las renovaciones en el hogar. Sin embargo, tenga en cuenta al investigar, que no desea sacrificar sus necesidades por un hogar cómodo solo por lo que cree que querrá un futuro comprador.

Por lo tanto, antes de comenzar a realizar cambios en su hogar, consulte a su agente de bienes raíces. Los agentes de bienes raíces, ya que trabajamos constantemente con nuevos clientes compradores, tenemos información privilegiada sobre lo que los compradores de viviendas están buscando ahora y en el futuro. Podremos ayudarlo a tomar decisiones inteligentes al remodelar o renovar su hogar.

Si piensa que puede querer remodelar o renovar su casa en un futuro próximo, o si simplemente tiene curiosidad acerca de otras formas en que puede aumentar su valor de reventa, comuníquese conmigo.

How to Amp Up The Resale Value of Your Home

How to Amp Up The Resale Value of Your Home

Whether you’re putting your home on the market this year or in the next five years, it is a smart decision to start building your home’s resale value now. Here are some ways to create a comfortable home while making it easier to put more money into your bank account on closing day.

Small Maintenance and Repairs

If you think that home maintenance on the weekends waste your time and energy, think again. The small chores you do around your home prevents it from losing value. Neglecting small maintenance and repairs causes 10% of your home’s value to walk out your door and slip through your windows. Most appraisers claim that homes showing little to no preventative maintenance can depreciate from $15,000 to $20,000.

study conducted by researchers at the University of Connecticut and Syracuse University shows that regular maintenance boosts your home value by about 1% per year. However, ongoing maintenance costs offset that value, which means that regular maintenance actually slows down your rate of depreciation. Furthermore, because homebuyers generally notice any repairs needed upon buying a new home, proactive maintenance lets the homebuyer know that he or she will not have to spend extra money to maintain the basics. This makes your home more attractive, and thus more likely to get higher priced offers.

Maintaining the basics can cost you little money and certainly some effort, but there’s a way to accomplish this very important activity smartly. This article by HouseLogic, for example,shows you how to keep home maintenance below $300 a year.  Planning ahead will also help make maintaining your home easier. Most professional appraisers and real estate agents recommend a proactive maintenance schedule that includes:

  • Keeping enough cash on hand to replace systems and materials
  • Creating and following a maintenance schedule
  • Planning a room redo every year
  • Keeping a notebook of all your maintenance and repairs

Landscaping

The Virginia Cooperative Extension at Virginia Techpublished a study that shows landscaping can increase a home’s value by 15%.  The study claims that a home valued at $150,000 could increase its value between $8,300 and $19,000 with the addition of landscaping. Particular landscape elements add different value. For instance, landscape design can increase your home’s value by 42%, plant size can increase your home’s value by 32%, and diversity in plants can increase your home’s value by 22%.

Replace Entrance Doors

If your entry doors are wood, consider switching them out for either fiberglass or steel doors. Steel doors add style and architectural interest to your home while improving security; you can add a deadbolt and electronic keypads to keep out intruders. Unlike wood doors, steel doors do not rot or splinter.

Alternatively, fiberglass doors can be designed to look like wood doors and give your home a modern look. Fiberglass doors conserve more energy than steel doors.

Pricewise, a steel door will cost you $1,335 with a 91% return on investment whereas a fiberglass door will cost you $3,126 with an 82.3% return on investment.

Garage Door Replacement

 At first, you might not think that your garage door increases the value of your home. However, your garage door distinguishes your home from the other homes on your block. As the largest entryway of a house, garage doors get noticed first because they’re the focal point of your home. If you want to quickly increase the resale value of your home, you need to make the most of this space.

Some interesting things being done with garage doors include:

  • Increased Size:Bigger garage doors help homes stand out more, and homeowners can do more creatively with them.
  • Bold Colors:Bright and bold colors now can complement the color of your home, or you can build a concept around the color of your home.
  • Faux Wood:You can install fiberglass or steel garage doors that look like wood garage doors. This gives your home a new level of sophistication.
  • Windows:Large Windows on your garage door improve the aesthetic of your home, and provide light into your garage so that it’s no longer a dark space.

 More importantly, a garage door replacement will cost you $1,652 and add $1,512 to the value of your home; that’s a return on your investment of 91.5%.

Fiberglass Attic Insulation

While energy efficiency is still not the sexiest selling point of your home, installing fiberglass attic insulation saves energy and garners a big payback on your investment. According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2016 Cost vs. Value top trends report, fiberglass attic insulation gained the top return on investment among the 30 projects in this year’s report. Using Remodel/Max as the cost source, a fiberglass attic insulation project cost $1,268 nationwide. Real estate professionals surveyed estimated that the work would boost the price of a home at resale, within a year of its completion, by $1,482. That’s a 116.9% return on investment.

Replacing Windows

Replacing your windows is another way to save energy and increase your home’s resale value. Replacing your old windows with energy saving models will beautify your home, keep it comfortable, and ease the workload of your HVAC system. According to HGTV, you’ll see a reduction in your utility bill by 7% to 15%. However, if you’re selling your home, you could expect a 60% to 70% recoupment of your investment. The two types of replacement windows that fetch the best returnare vinyl and wood.

Remodeling Your Kitchen

Kitchen remodeling can get expensive, but small renovations can make your home more buyer friendly. Changing your kitchen’s texture and color using a matte finish and neutral colors such as putty or grey enhances your home’s resale value. Because matte finishes have transitional qualities, your potential homebuyer can easily match his or her stainless steel or black and white appliances. Also, refinishing cabinetry, or switching to Energy Star™ appliances provide comfort you like and pizazz buyers adore.

Flow is important to any interior design of a home. If you feel that your kitchen hinders a good flow, change it. A small investment to knock out a non-structural wall or remove a kitchen island creates space and provides flow that buyers love.

A minor kitchen remodel can cost you $20,122 while putting $16,716 of resale value into your home; that’s an 83% payback on the project. If you want to do a major kitchen model, this can cost you about $60,000 and put about $39,000 of resale value into your home, which is only about a 65% payback on the project. Therefore, consider a minor kitchen remodel first.

Bathroom Addition or Remodel

Likewise, carefully consider adding a bathroom or remodeling your bathroom. Switching out your frosted glass shower doors for glass doors, cleaning the grout, replacing the shower and floor tiles, switching out your sink or toilet, or replacing your sink and shower fixtures can cost you little money.

Adding a bathroom can get expensive, but it can reduce congestion during hectic times and provide your guests with a bathroom. Consult with your real estate agent or a local appraiser before deciding whether a full remodel or addition is right for your situation. While a bathroom remodel will cost you about $18,000 with a return on investment of about 66%, a bathroom addition will cost you about $42,000 with a return on investment of about 56%. Therefore, it’s best do your due diligence before working on your bathroom.

Your Needs and Buyers’ Wants

On that note, if you need to renovate your home, be sure to consider how those changes will affect its appeal to future buyers. Knowing design trends will give you the opportunity to make changes to your home based on where your needs and your potential buyer’s desires intersect, thus increasing your property’s resale value drastically.

Designers and design websites provide great ideas when you’re brainstorming home renovations. Keep in mind as you research, however, that you don’t want to sacrifice your needs for a comfortable home just for the sake of what you think a future buyer will want!

Therefore, before you begin making any changes to your home, consult your real estate agent. Real estate agents, because we are constantly working with new buyer clients, have insider insight into what home buyers are looking for now and in the future. We’ll be able to help you make smart choices when remodeling or renovating your home.

If you think you might want to remodel or renovate your home in the near future, or if you are just curious about other ways you can increase its resale value, please reach out to me!

Seek better representation

Imagine you need to sell a car. Normally you would have the car detailed to make sure it shines. A clean, shiny, well kept car will appeal to the most buyers and get you the most amount of money. Most buyers will not seek out a dirty, beat up car, unless is cheap.

The same goes for selling a home. In fact, a home is a much larger sale so why not take the time to make it shiny.

Most people now a days have the attention span of a gnat (as do I). We only have one opportunity to make a good first impression.

Most buyers will research homes and areas online before they even consider reaching out to an REALTOR®. Property pictures are EVERYTHING. If your home does not show well in pictures you will not get the traffic you deserve.

You want to appeal to the most number of buyers. Stage your home to appeal to the masses. This will give you the best chance to get the most out of your investment. Your home is an INVESTMENT. It’s probably the largest investment you will make in your life.

When we represent a client in selling a property, it is our job to make sure that the property is marketed in a favorable manner. It is our job to tell you to declutter, clean, and freshen up the property. We know what buyers are looking for. We hear their complaints every day. Our critiques aren’t personal. We do not sell homes the same way we live in them. We want to you make as much money as possible. You make money, we make money. It’s that simple

As a future seller, do your research and make sure your listing agent will present your property in the best light. Look at their previous listings and see if you find them appealing. Does the agent focus on the homes best attributes? Are the pictures clear? Is the home clean and decluttered.

Sometimes the best way to explain the importance of our roles is to show them in pictures! Let the fun begin…

Please note that these are all listing pictures. None are from the Houston area (don’t want too step on any toes). They are all from different price points. I have seen multimillion dollar homes that are represented in this same manner.

First, declutter and clean. Most buyers when sent photos like this will not even want to tour the property. Would you?

Buyers will assume you have no storage if your counters are covered in stuff
This kitchen is small enough. Take out the table and bike!
I can’t even focus on the room. All I can look at is the personal items. Curtains on the main door?
Too much! Can you put away the trash can? Can you even open the frig door?
Speechless
Can you even see the built in shelves?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lighting focus and angles – Dark photo are the death of a listing. Add blurry to that and why would a buyer keep looking?

This room seems to be freshly painted and it has nice floors but the lighting and the random grocery bag is distracting
This is the way it was uploaded…blurry
What are we selling here? The back splash? This is one of two pictures that represent the kitchen. Neither one shows the entire kitchen
Is this the best way to represent a half bath? This is where wide angle lenses come in
Oh, a blurry brick wall! yay
Can you not fit in the entire home in the pic? How about straightening the camera?
It only takes a sec to straighten up the camera
Nope, it’s not a foggy day. Just a blurry pic
What are we selling? the couch?
Blurry seems to be an ongoing issue but there is much more wrong with this image.
Why? what are we really showing? Shampoos and toilet paper?
Crooked
Is this the master? Who knows?
Nope, I did not upload this pic upside down. That’s the way it’s listed.
Can I fit in this laundry room?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Main picture, first impression – We have the ability to organize the pics as we wish. Ideally you want to post the best pic first. This picture will either tempt the buyers to open the listing and learn more or they will simply swipe past it. 

 

This home has an amazing view. Could you walk out a little further to capture the actual view?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What house?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If this is going to be your main picture could you be bothered to move the box?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe consider moving the cars? What are we selling here?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Does this pic best represent the home? Dirty walls?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Virtual staging has come a long way but when it looks like this it’s probably better to leave the room empty

Um…

 

 

 

 

 

 

no comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We can’t force a seller to clean and declutter but we can stress the importance and set expectations. I know that money is sometimes a factor. You can’t do repairs if you don’t have the funds. That said,  cleaning and decluttering is free. No excuses.

A listing agreement is a partnership with the same goal: to sell for the most money. The seller does their part (clean, declutter, make repairs, etc) and we will do my part. We will stage the home to spotlight the home’s best features and order professional picture. Professional pictures are absolutely necessary.

This partnership will only work if we both do our part. We too are making a investment of time and money to make your home shine.

If you have any questions or would like a complimentary staging consultation please feel free to contact us at the following number.

Ali Palacios

GRI, ABR, MCNE, TAHS, ASPRE, HARRL
Broker
Happy Clients Realty Group
ali@happyclientsrealtygroup.com

Mobile – 832-418-0670

 

For example of great listing pics click here