Imagine going to a job interview in the clothes you slept in, with no make up… or unshaven if you are a man. Imagine that you do not brush your hair or your teeth and you walk in yawning. Next, imagine yourself going to a job interview wearing every single peice of jewelry you own, or every tie, wearing too much makeup and too much perfume or cologne. A potential buyer is going to look at your home the same way as your potential employer will look at you.
When you list your home for sale you join a very competitive group. In this economy the market is flooded with homes that are bank owned and being sold for prices that make most of us cringe. If you want your house to stand out, surely your price point is the most important factor, but how your home is presented is the second thing that is going to capture the interest of a buyer. If your home is unkempt, that is the feeling a buyer will take away with them after looking at your home. If your home is busy and cluttered your potential buyer will feel the same way.
When someone is veiwing your house they are probably looking for a new place to call home. You want them to see your house and feel hopefull and refreshed. Your old house will be their new house, a place to start over and make new memories, and the more you have opened your house for them to see the potential, the more likely you are to sell your home to them.
Having your house staged properly makes you a fierce competitor and in this economy that is what you need to be when you are selling your property. I am passionate about interior decorating and can help you stage your house or just offer suggestions that will guide you in staging your home yourself. Remember, I am always available, so feel free to call or e-mail me anytime.
Sitting down reading my California Association of Realtors, aka C.A.R. news letters today proved to be interesting as well as entertaining. Apparently a recent survey showed that when men and women are house hunting the men tend to value things such as upgraded bathrooms and kitchens, formal dining rooms, and fantastic views and women tend to lean towards the home office! If I hadn’t read this myself I would have guest quite the opposite.
It also seems that there are changes in what first time buyers and retired people are looking for in a home. Both groups are choosing homes closer to amenities over having larger lots. Having amenities with in walking distance has proved to be more valuable to buyers than owning more property, even when the prices are higher closer to town. The average size of the homes that buyers are wanting is also down. In 2005 single family homes with 4 bedrooms were 39% of the market, in 2009 this dropped to 34%. This is the first decrease in 20 years! During the same time period 3 bedroom single family homes icreased from 49% to 53%.
It is very interesting how our needs and wants change through the years, wether it be from personal changes or changes that we all experience together, such as a struggling economy. Whatever changes, It is my wish to see everyone be in a home that best suits them and thier needs. All of the Realty World family feels the same, so please give us a call and see what we can do to help you get to where you want to be!
I grew up in Mendocino county and some of my best childhood memories are of 4th of July weekend. Every year my family and I would set up our spot on the edge of Main Street is Willits and we would watch the parade. It was so exciting to see all the horses and cowboys, the girls in their old fashion dresses, the fire trucks, and the many floats of local businesses and organizations. In the evening we would drive the winding Hwy 20 to Fort Bragg and watch the breathtaking fireworks show over the ocean. I am no longer a child, but I am still excited about the many events Mendocino county holds to celebrate Independence Day!
In additon the the things I have already mentioned, there are rodeos, community BBQs, and concerts in the park. Lake Mendocino is the fullest it has been in years and no doubt it will be full of boats, jet skis, and swimmers. Lake Mendocino also has a great campground for those who may feel like spending thier holiday in the great outdoors.
If you are in the area please take advantage of our wonderful community, and feel free to contact me if you would like more information on wonderful Mendocino County. Happy 4th of July to everyone!
