Preparing for Selling Season

 

 Preparing for Selling Season

Tips for taking advantage of spring selling season: 

• Be the expert on the market – know what’s new on the market to get the jump on the competition and to share with buyers

• Communicate to your sellers about new listings coming on to the market 
• If neighbor lists home for less, may need to adjust price if the new listing is comparable and looks better to buyers 
• If neighbor lists home for more, will make seller’s home look even better

• Look for opportunities to take advantage of what’s going on in the marketplace: 

• Hyperactivity + Low Inventory + Lots of Buyers = Selling Season!! 

•  Take Action: 

• Get in front of as MANY PEOPLE as possible – market yourself as extensively as possible to continue to build your brand
• Stay Top of Mind – Double up on online (and offline) business development efforts and promotion. Launch new websites dedicated to specific towns or market areas, increase personal marketing 
• Capture mind share during the times when the most people are thinking about houses

A resolution that should be kept....for the sake of your home

Here is a bit of food for thought, all be it not fat free, low cal or all natural. 

In order to start your year off successfully it is necessary to streamline your home. Prepare yourself for an easy breezy, at least first couple of months, while the organization lasts.

Here is how to you can. (you may pick and choose the points that seem attainable based upon your motivation to get with the program in 2016)

Streamline the stuff
-We hear this time and time again DECLUTTER. But it's true. You will automatically feel a sense of accomplishment by cleaning counter-tops, cleaning out "junk drawers" and putting everything else in containers with labels (if you are feeling so ambitious)

Work out a weekly cleaning schedule
If you know what small things you need to achieve every day, you wont have to dedicate Saturday to doing everything. Set up a daily goal that minimizes weekend tidying.

Create a home improvement list
-What do you see that needs adjusting around your home. Invite a friend over to critique things and give them food in exchange for their "kind words"

Find DIY projects
-We have created an entire weekend warrior DIY pinterest board just for you to peruse.

Become energy efficient
-Change out a toilet or two. They now have dual flush toilets which uses less water depending on the number you just completed. Number referring to number 1 (a little tinkle) and number 2 (a little more than that) You may even be eligible for some kind of tax benefit from becoming more energy efficient.


Visit our Pinterest boards for DIY ideas and Organization guidance. We even have one for home improvements!

Home for the Holidays

Prep you home for success during the festive season!
Quick tips on how to be successful in the real estate market this season. 

(Inspired by an HGTV article)

Decorate tastefully
You do not want to take away from your home's natural curb appeal by cluttering your yard with blow up Santas and an entire herd of light up reindeer. Keep it simple with a wreath and a few lights.

     

Hire an Agent
That's where we come in. You want someone who will continue working hard for you even through this busy family time of year. 
















Price your home to sell
This is a great tip for every time of year, but especially when there are a lot of extra expenses due to holiday purchases. You want to still be affordable along with the tree and gifts. 



Be certain you have AWESOME photos 
Do not settle for mediocore phone pictures or un-professional photos of your home. Pictures sell homes. Especially now that much shopping is done online for homes. Your photos may be the only thing prospective buyers ever see. Make sure your real estate agent can work with a professional photographer to capture the beauty of your home. Bluewater has an in house photographer :)

Photo by our Photographer Liz










Open houses during this Season
These can be very festive and a great opportunity for you to help buyers see what their holidays could look like. Provide things like hot cocoa and peppermint sticks, Make sure the home is warm. And a cookie or two never hurt. 



"Offer holiday cheer in the form of financing.
Bah, humbug! Lenders are scrooges these days, but if you've got the means, then why not offer a home loan to a serious buyer? You could get a good rate of return on your money"

Preparing for the Holidays at your Home

These simple steps can make having family and friends over during the holiday season a breeze. If you plan on hosting a large party of cheerful guests 

(Reader's Digest tips)

Brighten up your bathroom- change out curtains or accent items to give a new fresh look to your space

Stow stuff away- clear counter-tops box up unnecessary items to provide more room

Make sure your entry way is welcoming- door mats, wreaths, lights and NO COBWEBS

Add extra seating- go shopping at your nearest home store like Ikea or Home Goods for foldable chairs that can easily be placed in a closet when not in use. 

(Our tips)

Have plenty of extra linens- bath towels pillows and face cloths

Stock the fridge with snack foods- fruits and veggies, crackers and cheese, nuts and party mix

Get your Wi-Fi password ready- It is always a pain to arrive somewhere and use your data plan, make sure to be ready with your internet information to make guests stay a breeze

Stock the bathrooms with extra toiletries- We all forget something any extra items from your previous hotel stays work perfectly for sink top baskets of essentials

Sales Agents: Implement Your 2015 Marketing Plan!

Successful real estate agents utilize marketing strategies.  Have you created and implemented a marketing plan for 2015?  Click here for a free marketing planning packet.

Here are some helpful tips to help you get started:

• Keep a weekly activity log of follow-ups, mailing sent, warm/cold calls and open houses.
• Communicate 4 ways:  email, phone, print/mail and social media.
• Plan a marketing budget.
• Tour local listings.
• Become more active in association activities and/or run for office.
• Attend office meetings.
• Develop a monthly newsletter.
• Conduct a buyer/seller seminar.
• Take classes:  Luxury Portfolio is available for all agents.  The next webinar sessions are March 12th and May 19th at 4pm.  Topics to be covered are:
• Luxury portfolio facts and statistics
• Customer communication tools
• Marketing materials and listing presentation resources
• Opportunities for additional media exposure
• A brief tour of LuxeXchange

 Click here to register for the March webinar and here to register for the May webinar. 

Flood Insurance, Do I Really Need it?

         Click Play to watch a quick video of things to know directly from FloodSmart.gov

The flood season is here and with one out of every 5 homes not covered with Flood Insurance we want to give you the facts. The most active flood periods are from October through March, affecting all regions in the United States. 

FEMA updates flood risk zones regularly, so be conscious of what your home's risk is. But, take note that there are still risks of flooding, even if you do not fall in a "high-risk" area. You can check where your home falls on the risk map here.

If you have flood insurance, make sure you know what your policy covers. Some policies do not replace personal items. And others do not cover high value items if they are stored in the basement. Make sure you are familiar with the clauses within your Flood Policy.

For more information about flooding or for quick insurance facts visit FloodSmart.gov

Contact Bluewater Insurance if you would like to add or change your flood insurance.

School Shopping...I Mean House Shopping

The millennial generation is looking for homes to expand in. (millennials being individuals born between 1980-2000). Over 60% of home buyers overall will consider schools in their home hunt. 90% of which are willing to exclude specific wish list amenities in return for living in the desired school zoning. Buyers will pay upwards of 20% more than budgeted to achieve ideal placement as well. Websites like Realtor.com and Zillow are now including school rating on their home search results. If you or someone you know falls in this vast category, make sure they know how to acquire the necessary information.

Interview local residents in the area:
Ask them about their school experiences
What programs are available at the schools
How is transportation (bus routes)
Are there after school programs
Private or Public
How are the sports programs


Carteret County Schools
If you are looking to relocate to Carteret County, visit the Carteret County Public School site here. There are a total of 17 public schools from Pre K to High School. Carteret County Public Schools has a total of 8,587 students enrolled spending $8,884 each year per student.  Annual EOGs have shown that students enrolled at Carteret County Schools score higher in math, science and reading than the North Carolina average. GreatSchool.org gave this district an 8 out of 10 rating.  


Onslow County Schools

If your home search is within Swansboro, Jacksonville or other towns in Onslow County - you have a total of 37 public schools. For more information about Onslow County Public Schools, visit their website here.  Over 25,000 students are enrolled in the Onslow County School System. Annual EOGs have shown that students enrolled at Onslow County Schools score slightly higher in math, science and reading than the North Carolina average. GreatSchool.org rated this district a 6 out of 10. 

Home Improvements with the most Bang

• New paint job
• Freshly maintained landscaping
• Remodeled and/or upgraded interior
• Deck and/or patio addition
• Additional bedroom or bathroom
• Go Green
• Addition to the garage

When selling a home adding to the square footage allows the appraiser to make "higher adjustments" to the total worth of your home. 

Consider, most projects do not earn dollar for dollar what you put into your home. On average home improvement will make 20 to 30 cents on the dollar. 

When considering refinancing, these  changes will benefit you the most

• Additional bedroom or bathroom
• Addition to the garage
• Kitchen remodeling and upgrades
• Improvement that expands the “use” of the home - think outdoor living and beyond

New Paint and Carpet

-The home begins at your front door! Try to spice up the color and make sure everything is in working order, the doorbell, handles are not loose, and rid of cobwebs. 

-Touch up any paint imperfections throughout your house

-Freshly paint your walls, if you have bold bright colors that may not appeal to the masses try looking into warm designer neutrals to give the feeling of cozy comfort. 

-94% of real estate professionals recommend spending a few dollars on your floors. They appeal to buyers and boost the overall cleanliness of your home. 

*Spending $600 to $900 can see up to double their return in value. 

Landscaping 
One of the top 3 investments that bring the biggest return.
$400-$500 can return 4 times this amount - 2007 Broker Survey
Overgrown trees and bushes create an unwelcoming dark appearance to your homes image. Your curb appeal is the first thing potential buyers notice when searching for a new home, even when they visit without an agent and do a drive by.

What is considered going green?
Energy savings adds an estimated 20 times the annual savings to the value of your home value- Appraisal Journal
This includes:
replacing old windows with more efficient models 
Upgrading appliances to eco friendly options, possibly including solar panels or solar can lighting and replacing your heating/air conditioning systems
Solar Power Water heaters can save as much as 80% on water heating bills

Inexpensive Upgrade Options
Apply Fresh Caulking throughout your home
Replacing or Upgrading hardware on cabinets and doors
Replacing faucets

Just keep in mind, once a buyer sees one thing out of place they will be prone to look for every other thing they can find that may or may not have an issue. So be prepared and change/upgrade/remove any questionable items within your home, whether that be rickety stairs, blue carpet, or 1970s wallpaper. 

Remember the appraisal process is most heavily determined by homes similar to yours that sell. Any additions you have made to your house will be considered after the base selling price is figured.

Simple Steps to Revamp your Curb Appeal

Everyone remembers a pretty face. This also holds true with your home. Potential home buyers will remember your home long after they view it if your house puts its best foot forward. Check out this 2 minute video to help you decide what step you need to take to appeal to your audience. 

Updated 3/22/16 for relevant video re-association