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Updates & tips
Vacant Property? Check with your insurance agent!
There are many reasons to consider furnishing/staging a vacant property, including showing good use of space; having "good" pictures to put on the internet; and allowing buyers to envision how a home can look (that's why developers furnish their models). However, there's another very important factor to consider when selling a vacant property: INSURANCE COVERAGE! The information below is general and you should check with your broker/agent as to what your particular insurance will and will not cover: Typically, a vacant property is defined as one that is empty with all furniture removed. This is not the same as a home that is sometimes unoccupied (vacation home, for instance). Most insurance companies will not cover vandalism after a home has been vacant for more than 30 days and many insurers will drop the policy on a vacant home at some point. Other points to consider: frozen pipes, fires, flooding, etc., etc. What should you do if you have a vacant property? First and foremost, check with your insurance carrier. Next, work with a professional stager to rent some furniture/accessories to give life to the property. Ensure the outside of the property is well maintained and doesn't appear abandoned (this includes seasonal maintenance of lawns, driveways, walkways, etc.). Put lights on timers and periodically change the on/off settings. Put a timer on a small stereo/radio. Have someone check the inside and outside of the home on a regular basis (your REALTOR or a neighbor or your staging company). If you don't have one, consider a security system. If you will be selling a vacant property, we would be happy to work with you to find cost-effective solutions that will not only improve marketability but may help with insurance issues, too. Seller's Advantage, based in Hockessin, DE serves the tri-state area and has been helping REALTORS and their clients since late 2002. If you are selling a property, call us and give it The Advantage!
I Can't Live In A Staged Home!
Somehow (TV, maybe?) many home sellers think that living in a staged home means waking up every morning, lighting candles, putting cookies in the oven, and boarding the pets. Not so! In fact, many home owners actually appreciate the advantages of living in a so-called "staged" home – in other words, a home that is clean, well organized, and clutter-free. Smart sellers also know that there are some things they will have to do on a day-to-day basis to maintain their home. Your stager and REALTOR will advise you on the particular things you should do to maintain your home, but in general: · Gather day-to-day clutter (mail, magazines, toys, etc.) and place it out-of-sight or in attractive containers. · Make the beds. Nothing drags down a bedroom faster than a messy, unmade bed. · Laundry/towels: "Store" in the washer/dryer. · Dishes: Put them in the dishwasher. If you don't have a dishwasher and don't have time to wash the dishes, at least neatly place them in a small dishpan (put it under the sink, if possible). · Clothing: Introduce your teen to the hanger! · Pets: Yep, most of us have them and it may not always be possible to get them out of the house for showings. Just make sure litter boxes are VERY clean and discreetly placed. Oh, and make sure the dog doesn't bite. · Bathrooms and kitchens: Make it a daily ritual to wipe down counters/mirrors. Seems like a long list, but if these things are done on a regular basis, maintenance is easy and the rewards are great because you never know when THE buyer will walk through your front door!
Houses ARE selling…Make buyers want yours!
Well, it's finally happening… first-time home buyers are scurrying to take advantage of their $8,000 tax credit. Interest rates are down, people are refinancing, and it seems everyone is starting to breathe again. (And finally not into a brown paper bag!) For home sellers, this is great news! It's time to roll up your sleeves and begin the strategic marketing plan for your house–especially if it is not yet listed. If it is already on the market, it is time to regroup and get back in the game. There are still an enormous number of houses on the market for buyers to consider. What can you do to make yours grab their attention? According to national statistics, 94.5% ofprofessionallyStaged homes sell in 37 days or less. That's intoday'smarket. When you use an Accredited Staging Professional (ASP) to get your house Staged, they will create a house that shows like a model. They work within your time frame and budget, providing all levels of Home Staging services. This includes everything from a verbal consultation to an entire Home Staging makeover. Gone are the days when a potential buyer would call a Realtor before beginning their home search. Today's buyer goes straight to the Internet. Very often, they will go to several open houses they have researched on the Web before even contacting a Realtor. So, online photos are the first impression a buyer gets of your house. When a house is listed, it gets the most interest from people looking in that price range for the first two weeks it is on the market. If you don't hook the buyer within that time frame, you've lost them. Your next step is usually a price reduction that can range anywhere from 5% to 10% of your initial asking price. On a $350,000 house, that is $17,500 to $35,000! Unfortunately, it seems that some people use Home Staging as a last ditch effort. This usually translates to too little, too late. Even if you take the "wait and see" approach for just the first few weeks your house is on the market, you are most likely on the way to your first price reduction. According toThe National Association of Realtors Guide to Home Selling, Home Staging is the way to maximize profits in the sale of your home. To ensure you get the most money for your house, be sure to have it Staged by an Accredited Staging Professional BEFORE you list!Copyright 2009 Stage Right! Home Staging, LLC Bath before Stage Right! Bath after Stage Right!