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Category Archives: Sell Right!
Time for home sellers to Spring into action
When we welcomed the first day of Spring this week, I was psyched about how fortunate we are to enjoy this beautiful, sunny weather in Florida. And then that much-needed rain came the day after, and I was reminded of how every everything around us is in a constant cycle of rebirth. This is the perfect time to plant seeds in our gardens. But it also is the time of year that home sellers and home buyers should plant the seeds that will grow a successful real estate transaction. Judging by how busy THE Gail Spada TEAM has been lately, the Hernando County housing market appears to be experiencing its own cycle of rebirth. Homeowners who have been sitting on the fence about placing their home on the market should understand that now is one of the best times of the year to make their move. The time is ripe … Continue reading
Real scary stories about real estate
Halloween is not until Monday, but this weekend will be a delicious blur of costume parties, sugar-highs and campy chit-chat about ghosts, goblins and ghouls. It’s silly, but it’s fun to feed our fascination with being scared, or at least scary, while pretending for a short time to be something we’re not. But even though Halloween comes just once a year, I think most real estate professionals will tell you that scary behavior and pretenders are a too-frequent occurrence as they deal with customers who are buying or selling homes. Don’t get me wrong; it’s not like people intend to be evil or misrepresent themselves. It just happens, sort of the same way some folks can’t resist using bad puns when telling Halloween jokes. To wit: Q: What is a baby vampire’s favorite part of a house? A: The bat-room! But it’s not bad jokes or things that go “bump” … Continue reading
Real estate rules for the Dog Days of Summer
The Dog Days of Summer. It’s a familiar phrase to convey our collective opinion about this steamy, stifling time of the year. Of course, there’s the scientific explanation. The way the Earth is tilted on its axis this time of year puts the Northern Hemisphere closer to the sun. It also is the time of year when Sirius — aka the Dog Star — is in conjunction with the sun. Hence, the moniker by ancient astronomers. But most of us relate to the everyday meaning attached to the Dog Days of Summer: It’s hot as H-E-double-hockey-sticks! Granted, the heat index in Brooksville, FL was only 104 degrees this morning, but when you string together a couple months of those days, it’s no wonder folks are slowing down to cool down. Fortunately, the real estate market in Hernando County, like the humidity, is gathering some steam. But unfortunately, also like the … Continue reading
First offers: Sellers can learn from buyers
Sellers can learn a lot from the first offer that is made on their home. Working with their listing agent, sellers should use that knowledge to their advantage and make any necessary adjustments sooner than later. We’ll separate the information you can gather into two categories: Presentation and Price. But before we explore those possibilities, it may be useful to restate some basic advice that we give home sellers before we plant a for-sale sign on their lawn, or place the first photo on the Hernando County MLS. Nothing is more crucial to selling your home than setting a realistic price. Set the price too high at the outset, and you automatically will eliminate potential buyers who either recognize that you are asking too much, or whose online searches don’t match your asking price. One of the biggest risks of pricing your home too high is that you will not … Continue reading
5 reasons to choose a REALTOR® who knows REALTORs®
In a recent post we explained how vital it is for your REALTOR® to be a good listener and an effective communicator. Clear, prompt communication between a home seller and REALTOR® greatly increases the odds that your home will sell sooner and close to your asking price. But there is another advantage to listing with an agent who communicates well with you; she almost certainly is communicating well with other REALTOR®s. And having an established, reputable real estate agent who has earned the trust and respect of a network of peers gives you a decided edge as your property competes in the local housing market. This aspect of skilled communication takes a REALTOR® from good to great, and is essential to identifying serious home shoppers and closing a sale. Consider these five reasons for choosing a well-connected and communicative real estate agent who can enhance the experience of both buyers … Continue reading
Sellers and buyers: Less social media means more
Imagine this scenario: You’ve listed your home for sale and as your REALTOR® is showing it, you mention, with a tone of disappointment, how long it has been on the market. In the course of casual conversation you also share that your spouse has accepted a job in another state and, even though you’re looking forward to the move, you’re a little worried about the timing. After your REALTOR® pulls you into another room and puts duct tape on your mouth, you realize it probably wasn’t a good idea to let your prospective buyer know you are so anxious to make a sale because now, in all likelihood, they will factor that perceived desperation into a too-low offer. Most folks probably would not offer that much insight into their personal circumstances in a face-to-face conversation. Yet, some sellers — and buyers, too — are carelessly posting information on social media … Continue reading
More incentives that sellers can offer buyers
In our last article, we talked about sellers offering to pay for home warranties as a way to sweeten the pot for potential buyers. Warranties are a very appealing option because they offer protection for the buyer and are relatively inexpensive for the seller. Still, warranties are not right for everyone. So, determined sellers may wish to explore other buyer incentives as they work with their REALTOR® to get a leg up on their competition and make their property more memorable. As we’ve said before, the key to catching buyers’ interest is affordability. Addressing that factor begins with a realistic listing price, and continues with being creative and flexible as you customize incentives to satisfy buyers who, especially in today’s market, are culling many options. In this installment we’ll take a brief look at a few other ideas that appeal directly to the buyer’s and seller’s bottom lines. Prepaid home … Continue reading
Home-selling incentives: The successful and the silly
With so many homes on the market, sellers in Spring Hill and Brooksville often ask “What can we do to make our property stand out from the others?” The short answer to that question is simple: Lower the price. But if you’re a seller who already has lowered your asking price — maybe more than once — and you aren’t prepared to go lower, it may be time to start brainstorming with your REALTOR® about incentives you can offer that will help bring buyers to your door. When it comes to incentives, the possibilities are virtually endless. And they are most effective when other sellers in your neighborhood also have reduced their prices on their real estate, which lessens your chance of being unique. Incentives can range from furniture to financing. But some are more practical and dependable than others. While offering to throw in a Harley-Davidson or a golf … Continue reading
Pet owners as home sellers
I love pets. Not just mine, but others’. And I have a special concern for those that are orphaned or homeless. I’m pleased to express that concern by being an active supporter of both the Humane Society of the Nature Coast and the SPCA of Hernando County. I was the primary sponsor of both organizations’ annual golf tournaments this year, and the events raised more than $23,000 combined to help sustain these indispensable community resources. I also donate a portion of my professional fee to the Humane Society every time I close on a “pet parents” home. (Check out this video!) But my personal fondness for our furry friends sometimes is at odds with my professional commitment to my customers who are listing homes in Brooksville and Spring Hill. Marketing a home where pets are present can be a problem. Even if your dog or cat is well-behaved and well-trained, … Continue reading
Here lies Open House — RIP, old friend
Thank you all for joining us today as we bid farewell to our very old friend, Open House. It wasn’t really so long ago that he was a vibrant part of our community. There was a time when he was respectable and dependable, a familiar face in our neighborhoods. But over the past 10 years or so we saw less and less of him. Rumor had it that he lost his reason to exist. There were a number of contributing factors leading up to Open House’s demise. For one, he no longer felt needed by his dearest friends, old-fashioned home sellers and unimaginative REALTORs®, both of whose days also are numbered. For another, Open House was hard to work with. He commanded a huge amount of time and energy. Vulnerable from suffering repeated rejections, frustrated home sellers and desperate REALTORs® often would turn to Open House to save the day. … Continue reading
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