Let's Talk Real Estate

Smell plays a much bigger role in our perception of things than we realize. It's the sense most closely linked to memory, so it can actually cause an emotional response in people. It also influences the part of the brain that affects our mood, so a "bad" smell can trigger a visceral response in how we feel. What does this mean for you when selling your home? You don't want it to smell bad to people. That's all. Of course, smell is largely individual. My wife loves the smell of tea rose; I think it smells like stinkbugs. On the other hand, who doesn't love the smell of baking cookies, which is why your realtor may put a batch in your oven if you have an open house. General Tips to Keep Your Home S(m)elling-Fresh Weather permitting, open windows around your house from time to time to air the place out. With the windows open, run your HVAC on fan mode for extra ventilation. Replace your HVAC filters, if it's time. Beware of scented room sprays ...

A cracked window pane. A doorbell hanging by a wire. A hole in the living room wall from that time you practiced your golf swing inside. All of our homes have them--those annoying little broken things. We patch them up roughly, thinking "I'll fix that next week." But of course we don't. And in no time at all, we become totally blind to them . It takes your ever-observant mother commenting on your oven handle for you to remember that it wasn't always duct taped in place. Everyone's got their favorite fix-it juice (e.g., WD-40, Superglue, wood putty, etc.). What's your go-to? Repairs can be costly, especially if you're not particularly handy. (Of course. That's part of the reason people hold off doing them.) But especially for sellers, it's important to consider the cost of not doing them . That doorknob that came out in your potential buyer's hand? It could cost you an offer. And even the things a buyer can't see could both c...

In last week’s post, I listed my top 10 tips for prepping your home to sell . In the coming weeks, I’ll give some more in-depth insights into each of those 10 tips. In today’s edition, let’s take a closer look at how to choose a listing agent.  3 Basic Criteria My three fundamental criteria for selecting a listing agent are simple: full-time, local, experienced.   Full-Time I strongly recommend going with a full-time agent. You want someone who’s able to focus on and respond to you throughout any given day; not someone who’s sharing his or her time with a day job. Local You’ll also want someone who specializes in your area. You don’t necessarily need—or even want—someone who specializes in a single neighborhood , as their scope can be limited and narrow. But you do want someone who’s well-versed in the market and trends in your surrounding area and county. Experience You want someone who’s been doing this long enough to know what works, the potential pitfalls...

Thinking about putting your house on the market? Then you probably already know that it takes work. A lot of work, if we're being honest. People will offer varying opinions when it comes to prepping your home to sell. Among the bold statements I've personally heard: "Curb appeal is everything. Buyers decide before they walk in the door if they'll buy." "All anyone cares about is the kitchen and master bedroom." "People just look past clutter." The truth is that there's no silver bullet when it comes to selling your home. Everyone walking through will have a different set of priorities and preferences. But being in the business of buying and selling homes since 2005, I've observed strategies that do make a difference. In this blog, I'll share my top 10. Note: These are listed (very roughly) by timeline, not priority. In the coming weeks, I'll explore each of these strategies with more in-depth blog posts. Talk t...