Choose the Right List Price When Selling Your Home!

One of the most critical factors in selling a home quickly and for a good final sale price is choosing the right list price. There are several different approaches you can take to determine the right price for your property. Which one you choose depends on what strategy you want to use to attract buyers, and also how much risk you're prepared to take in order to attract offers.

Many homeowners simply want to list their property at the highest price they believe the market can bear. They've seen what a few properties are selling for in their neighbourhood and then add an arbitrary percentage to reflect where they think the market will be by the time they sell in a month or two. This rather optimistic approach is favoured by sellers who want to ‘test the waters' to see just how high the market might go. They think they can try the high end price first and adjust it downwards later if they don't get results. As any Coldwell Banker ® professional can tell you, this strategy can be a costly mistake. Overpricing your listing can have several potentially damaging repercussions. Salespeople will be less likely to recommend it to potential buyers, so you'll get fewer viewings. They may pass it by in favour of other, more competitively priced listings, and in very little time, they'll simply forget about it. Fewer viewers means fewer opportunities for your sales professional to convert those prospects into buyers.

Trying to solve the problem with later reductions in the list price simply doesn't have the same impact as pricing it right the first time. In fact, sometimes the opposite is true. Going through price reductions means your house is on the market for a longer time. And the longer it's on the market, the more suspicious buyers become that something must be wrong. It's human nature. This means you may have to lower your price even further to get action.

The ideal strategy to stimulate buyer interest is to set your initial price either at, or even slightly below market. In fact, in a very high demand area, it may even be preferable to list the most sought-after properties at an under-market price. This is done to encourage the seller's dream scenario – the multiple-offer bidding war.

How do you know what approach is right for you and your property? I can prepare a comprehensive market analysis to help you arrive at the right list price. Not only will this report show you what comparable homes in the area recently sold for, it will also show you current listings now on the market. This is your direct competition – the properties you're competing against for buyers, so choose your price accordingly. And remember to look closely at those expired listings. This shows you what prices the market will not bear.

Contact me today for a free Home Market Value Report and Staging Advice.

Simple Solutions to Increase Your Home's Curb Appeal

Draw attention to the front door.

 If you’ve got one bold color on your home, it should definitely be on your front door. Why not orange for a green home, or purple for a gray one? If you step out of your comfort zone, people will take notice and be drawn to the entrance of your home
   

                                                         

Use potted plants to dress up your entryway.

For a more formal approach, a consistent set of pots works great. But for a more casual look, a variety of sizes and shapes works very well.

   

                                                         

Add simple architectural details to enhance your façade.

Just remember to stay within the style of your home. Brackets and corbels are a great way to add character to a more traditional façade; if you have more Spanish or Mediterranean influences, consider installing a medallion or simple metal details like a flower box. All these items are inexpensive and easy to install.
   

                                                         

Use native plants for a low-maintenance yard.

They thrive in their natural environment and have developed defenses against freezing, drought, and have no need for chemical pesticides or fertilizers. If you want to know which plants are native to your area, go to your local nursery. They’ll show you exactly how to create a beautiful front yard that’s colorful year round and low maintenance.   

                                                         

Don’t forget the garage door.

Garage doors can take up a large expanse of your home’s façade, and if they’re in bad shape, they can really bring down the look of your home. Paint your door a darker shade of the house color, and if your door has panel details, highlight them with a darker shade that complements your house and brings depth to your façade.
   

                                                         

Dress up your driveway and pathways.

Concrete driveways and pathways can seem cold and uninviting, but they don’t have to be. For existing concrete hardscapes, consider applying a stain or masonry paint. They’re available in a variety of colors to complement your home, and they’ll soften the look of the surface.
   

 

 

Contact me today for a FREE Home Value Report or Staging Advice.

                                                         

7 TIps to be the "Awesomest" House on the Block this Halloween!

Halloween is right around the corner and it’s one of the few holidays where complete strangers visit your home and it’s totally ok.

But don't be the lame house on the block this Halloween. Be the home the kids talk about for years to come. So here’s a list of useful tips on how to be the awesome home in your neighborhood this Halloween.


1. Don’t say “What are you supposed to be?” when you know darn well that the kid in front of you is a ghost, a pirate or whatever. 

 

 

2. Give candy. Not pretzels. 

 

 

3. Have a front yard that looks like this…

 

 

4. Carve a Death Star jack-o-lantern.

 

5. Give out app store gift cards.

 

 

6. Have this on your front door.

7. Be home. 

Here Are 33 Super Duper Ideas to Upgrade Your Home!

There are some real gems in this blog!  Number 11 and 29 are my favourites :)

 

1. Build a small mailbox library.

        

 

2. Swap out your showerhead for this amazing one.

 

3. Remove your fake drawers and make them functional.

 

 

4. Install in-counter storage for your fruits, bread, and vegetables.

 

5. Save space with drying racks in your laundry room that disappear into the wall after use.

 

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6. Split a regular door into dutch half doors.

 

7. Add personal tabs so everyone gets their own toilet seat.

 

8. Heat sensing tiles will turn every shower into an Aurora Borealis of color.

        

 

9. Add a half table over a toilet paper holder to save space in a small bathroom.

 

10. Recessed outlets mean that your furniture can actually sit up against the wall.

 

11. Outlets in drawers mean that you can get all that gadget clutter off the counter.

Flickr: 53331194@N07

 

 

12. You could also install your outlets underneath your kitchen cabinets so they don’t interfere with the backsplash.

        

 

13. Give your appliances an expensive-looking makeover with stainless steel contact paper.

 

 

14. Slide out drawers in the kitchen provide easy access for spices and condiments.

        

 

15. If your garage is adjacent to your kitchen or pantry, insert a small door for a super easy way to load groceries.

 

16. Build a porthole/tunnel into the wall to connect two rooms.

 

A super fun idea for connecting a playroom to the living room, or to provide an easy way to access two kids’ rooms.

 

17. Add a long shelf to a hallway.

        

 

18. Instead of bunk beds, opt for space-saving murphy beds in a kids’ room or guest room.

 

19. This simple outdoor shower is perfect for a beach house.

 

20. Add a cabinet to any dead space in your kitchen or laundry room for cleaning supplies.

 

21. Replace your house numbers with a modern font.

 

 

 

The ones on the right are available from Design Within Reach.

22. Make signs for the bathroom so your guests know where to go.

 

This crafter found the wooden replicas at Michael’s and painted them black.

23. Add a window seat to the landing of your staircase.

 

24. Light up your front or back porch with a chandelier.

 

25. Hide a slide-out coffee bar or kitchen appliances behind folding doors.

 

 

 

26. Use your kitchen drawers for a cutting board/scraps disposal station.

 

27. Add a doggie wash to a mudroom, laundry room, or entryway.

 

28. Missing a skylight? Get a Sun Tunnel.

 

These are REAL, although you do need a certified roofer to install.

29. Install a slide-away “step” in your bathroom baseboard to solve your short person problems.

 

 

 

You can just slide it away when not in use instead of constantly tripping over the stool.

30. Stools on hinges inside of a kitchen island or bar are a total space-saver.

 

31. Build drawers in wasted space between studs in the wall.

 

32. Mirrored tiles are a great substitute for a windowless room.

troyerbuilders.net

 

 

Left: mirrored subway tiles for a small dressing room or bathroom.
Right: a paned mirror that gives the illusion of light in a windowless basement.

33. Apply stone or tile to the siding of the foundation of your home.

 

Because the outside of your home should be just as pretty as the inside.