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Your Home At Center Stage |
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On Your Side |
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Return the Favor |
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Michael Smith
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I am pleased to present you with the
latest issue of Life@Home. Delivered to
home buyers, sellers and owners on a
monthly basis, this electronic
newsletter is designed to give you the
real estate information that is
important to you. In each issue, you
will find practical tips and articles
related to buying, selling or owning a
home, as well as the latest news on real
estate trends. I hope that you enjoy
this issue of Life@Home. If I can be of
any assistance, please do not hesitate
to contact me. |
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Your Home At Center Stage
In Hollywood they are called
stylists. They are fashion
professionals who help celebrities
shine by outfitting them in the
right clothes and accessories. In
the world of home buying and
selling, real estate professionals
fill the same role, but in this case
the “star” is your home. Here are
five things you can do to stage your
home for sale.
Staging is an important part of the
home sale process. Staging is
presenting your home in its best and
most appealing light to the majority
of buyers. In the end, it may even
lead to less time on the market and
a better sales price.
1. De-clutter and de-personalize:
Remove all clutter and reduce the
number of personal pictures and
mementos. You do not have to purge
everything, but packing away items
at a friend’s house or in storage
might be a good idea.
2. Go for an updated look: If you
have well-worn, wall-to-wall carpet,
rip it up and replace it. If your
kitchen cabinets are dated, spruce
them up with new paint. Making your
home look its best may take some
money and some elbow grease.
3. Create a warm and cozy
environment: You want your home to
have a welcoming feel. Rearrange
seating to create conversation
areas. You want buyers to want to
stay and relax.
4. Lighten up: Use table lamps to
create a warm glow and mirrors to
reflect the light around the room.
Open up blinds and shades to let the
sunshine in. A fresh coat of paint
in an inviting, neutral tone will
play up the sense of light and
warmth.
5. Use accessories: Accent pillows,
throw blankets, fresh cut flowers,
bowls of polished fruit and artfully
arranged books, can help you
complete the sophisticated and
inviting scene. Remember, you want
buyers to imagine themselves living
in this setting.
Your real estate professional is
your greatest resource when it comes
to preparing your home for sale.
Work with them to create the home of
your buyer’s dreams. |
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On Your Side
A good buyer’s agent is a valuable
ally. They can help you locate
desirable properties, evaluate
asking prices, navigate negotiations
and close the deal. In short, they
are your advocate and guide, so
choosing the right professional is
an important decision.
When you interview prospective
agents, be sure to ask about their
experience, qualifications and
interpersonal style. In addition,
you will want to ask some pointed,
real estate-related questions.
What is your average
list-price-to-sales-price ratio?
You want to gauge how effective the
agent is at negotiating a sales
price below or at the asking price.
A low percentage will tell you the
agent is skilled at lowering the
sales price.
Do you represent sellers as well
as buyers? Some real estate
professionals are exclusive buyer
agents while others work on both
sides of the transaction. Ask how
the agent would handle the purchase
should you decide to buy one of the
properties she represents.
What if I buy a For Sale By Owner
property? Each agent has a
company or personal policy on how
they handle FSBO listings. Asking
about their approach upfront
eliminates possible
misunderstandings.
May I contact some of your recent
clients? Ask to speak with the
last three buyers the agent has
represented. This prevents them from
showcasing their success stories or
favorite clients. Instead it will
let you gauge how they performed in
the current market conditions.
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Return the Favor
Interviewing for a job can
be one of life’s more
stressful experiences. Make
yourself a better candidate
by preparing as much as
possible. Research the
company, the position and
prepare your own questions.
You will seem more
knowledgeable and interested
if you have your own
relevant questions to ask. |
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