Seller Tips

SHOULD WE WAIT FOR A BETTER OFFER?

Princeton Town Topics – August 3, 2011

SHOULD WE WAIT FOR A BETTER OFFER?

It’s been a lot of work getting your home ready for sale. So when your REALTOR® calls with your first bid, you are thrilled! Your euphoria is short-lived, however, when you hear that their offer is lower than you expected. Should you work with this offer or wait for a better one?

One of the biggest mistakes a seller can make is to wait too long for something better. If your listing gets old, buyers start wondering what is wrong with your property and either look elsewhere or make low-ball offers. You don’t want to be forced to continually drop your price to get the attention of bargain hunters.

Statistically, one of the first buyers to make an offer on your home will end up buying it. So if you don’t like their original bid, your REALTOR® can help you come up with a counter-offer that is a reasonable compromise. Each party will have to make some concessions, but both should feel like winners in the end.

Whether you’re ready to Plant & Buy, Bloom & Change or Grow & Sell, Contact Beatrice Bloom first!

Real Estate Expert in Princeton, NJ

INCREASE YOUR HOME’S VALUE – PLANT A TREE

Princeton Town Topics – July 27, 2011

INCREASE YOUR HOME’S VALUE – PLANT A TREE

It’s always a good idea to regularly upgrade your home to increase its value. Some improvements are more cost effective than others and your REALTOR® can recommend projects with the best resale value.

Planting a tree is one improvement, however, that will always pay off. A beautiful tree will increase your property’s value by as much as 9 percent, says a study by The American Nursery & Landscape Association.

Trees can also significantly reduce your utility bills. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, properly placed trees will save you as much as 30 percent on air conditioning costs in summer and 20 to 50 percent for heating in winter.

Besides adding to your home’s resale value, several studies show that trees around your home will reduce stress, improve physical and mental health and even increase learning ability in children.

Planting a tree adds value to your home, reduces your utility bills and improves the quality of life. What could be a better home improvement than that?

Whether you’re ready to Plant & Buy, Bloom & Change or Grow & Sell, Contact Beatrice Bloom first!

Real Estate Expert in Princeton, NJ

WHEN ZERO IS A GOOD THING

Princeton Town Topics – July 20, 2011

WHEN ZERO IS A GOOD THING

One of the most cost effective ways to improve the resale value of your home is to give it a fresh coat of paint. Most designers recommend using neutral tones picked from this year’s most popular color palette.

“Eco-friendly” is a popular feature with today’s buyers. One inexpensive way to go “green” is to use paint with less of the VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that are found in standard paints. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, VOCs are chemicals that are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids, some of which may have short or long-term adverse health effects. Low VOC paints are not only healthier, but they don’t leave that lingering paint odor inside your house.

The right paint job can take years off the overall look and feel of your home. Using low or zero VOC paint can be also be a great selling point. Be sure to talk to your REALTOR about what colors and paints will make the best impression.

Whether you’re ready to Plant & Buy, Bloom & Change or Grow & Sell, Contact Beatrice Bloom first!

Real Estate Expert in Princeton, NJ

CASH TALKS

Princeton Town Topics – July 13, 2011

CASH TALKS

Buying a home with cash is becoming more popular than ever. This year, according to the National Association of Realtors, 32% of home purchases were paid for in cash, up from 26% last year.

One of the advantages of a cash purchase is bypassing the loan approval process, which can be complicated. When you don’t have to submit all your financial records to a lender, you can maintain your privacy and have more bargaining power with the seller. Sellers are often willing to accept lower offers from cash buyers, because the deal is more dependable when it’s not contingent upon appraisals and outside funding.

If you do have the cash to cover a home purchase, the process is faster and easier. You will also have instant equity in your new home; and save on all the interest you would pay over a 30 year loan.

Maybe this is why more homebuyers, who have the available funds, are paying cash for their new homes this year.

Whether you’re ready to Plant & Buy, Bloom & Change or Grow & Sell, Contact Beatrice Bloom first!

Real Estate Expert in Princeton, NJ

TARGET MARKETING

Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – June 29, 2011

TARGET MARKETING

As soon as the listing agreement is signed, your Realtor will begin the search for a buyer for your home. This means directing our marketing efforts to target groups of individuals who are likely to be attracted to the amenities offered by your home and neighborhood.

If your property is near a new office park, your Realtor will look there for prospects who want to live near their work place. If it is an historic property, the local preservation society may have a publication in which to advertise. Your Realtor may call or write to the neighbors who may know someone who would be attracted to your home. Your Realtor may check with other cooperating MLS brokers to see if they have buyers. When your home is being marketed professionally, your Realtor will do a lot more than just feed the listing into the MLS and place an occasional ad.

WHAT DO BUYERS WANT?

Princeton Town Topics – Let’s Talk Real Estate – June 15, 2011

WHAT DO BUYERS WANT?

This year’s buyer is price conscious and highly discriminating. According to surveys conducted by Coldwell Banker and Avid Ratings Co., affordability is the first priority for today’s homebuyer. So sellers should be careful to price their homes competitively from the beginning. The other top requirement is move-in readiness. A home that needs even minor repairs will be more difficult to sell. So sellers should have all the necessary repairs and cosmetic improvements completed before listing.

Features that rank at the top of this year’s wish lists are modern kitchens, energy efficient upgrades, a home office, a main floor master suite, an outdoor living room, extra storage and easy access to community walking areas. While you can’t control some of these things, if your home does have any of these details, you should highlight them in your marketing.

Every neighborhood and individual buyer is unique, so be sure to ask your REALTOR® for a list of the most popular “must-haves” for buyers in your area.

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