If They Don’t Like the Outside, They Won’t Go Inside

Home buyers decide whether or not to look inside a house based on the exterior appearance. What they see when they drive by, or when they arrive for a showing sets the tone for that first impression. It often determines if a buyer even wants to go inside for a closer look.

Back in the 1980’s, before I was a Realtor, I was in the market to buy a house. The agent pulled up to a house that was rundown, unkempt and showed years of deferred maintenance. There were chickens, barricaded by wire fencing, roaming the overgrown front yard. I wasn’t in the market for an investment property or a fixer upper. I told the agent I had no interest in looking at the interior. She insisted I would fall in love with the house once I got inside. I told her no thank you.

If a buyer doesn’t like the outside of a house for sale, they’re not likely to look inside.

To prepare your house for sale, detach yourself from the property. Remember, it’s a business transaction. This can be hard for some, as there are memories attached to a home. Look at the house, as if you are a potential buyer.

Look outside

What is your first impression of the house and yard?

Can you enhance the outside features of the house?

Can you minimize the worst features?

Curb Appeal

Pressure wash the front path, driveway, sidewalk, deck and house.

Mist the roof with a light chlorine rinse. Be careful not to kill plants around the house.

Cut back any bushes or shrubs.

Mow, weed and edge the yard. 

Rake and dispose of leaves, even if your lot is wooded.

Trim tree limbs near or touching the roof.

Put away unnecessary items around the house.

Clean the windows and gutters.

Put a fresh coat of paint on the front door.

If you can budget it, a fresh paint job does wonders.

Add some potted flowering plants to the front porch, by the door.

Keep the pool crystal clear for showings.

I recently had a home seller tell me that she never liked her house, even the first day she drove up and saw it. She said a friend told her that it would ‘grow on her’. I say go with your gut instincts. If you don’t like it the first time you see it, then it’s not the house for you.

Remember, a buyer will discount their offer price on a house by thousands, for items that may often cost a seller hundreds to fix.  At home inspection time, buyers may estimate items found on an inspection report high. And often, they fear there are items that may not have been found, that may turn up after they have purchased the house.

So, before that for sale sign goes up, get that house market ready.

Staging your Brevard County FL

If they don’t Like the Outside, They Won’t Go Inside

Some Pets are Scared on the 4th of July

It’s time for those holiday festivities this weekend and a lot of people are looking forward to having some much needed time off. But, not everyone is excited about the July 4^th.  Some pets are scared on Independence Day.

More pets run away on the 4th of July than any other time of year. Too much activity and noise can cause severe anxiety for some pets.

During the 4th of July festivities try and keep your pet safe and comfortable.

Keep pets inside if at all possible, away from the noise of the fireworks. This will keep your pet from getting injured by stray fireworks and it will keep him away from the noise. He’ll have less chance of bolting or running away.

• Turn on some soft music or the television in the house, to cause a slight distraction from the noise of the fireworks.
• Spend time with your pet in a quiet safe place, during the height of the fireworks and festivities, to soothe him.
• If you have to take your pet outside with you, be sure that you have him on a leash and keep him in close sight.
• Keep an eye on your pet. Barking, howling and moving from window to window can all be signs of anxiety. Distract your pet with a dog treat or a favorite toy.
• If you have a thunder shirt or vest for your pet, put it on before the fireworks start. It can help comfort some animals.
• Don’t leave your pet home alone during the fireworks.
• Keep holiday food away from your pet. It can be too rich.

Bailey the Boxer’s friend, Ralphie is coming over to spend the night so they can hang out inside before the holiday.

Have a safe and Happy 4th of July.

Deer Lakes Melbourne Pool Home on the Lake Sold

Congratulations, Jeannine on the sale of your gorgeous Deer Lakes pool home in Melbourne with soaring views of the lake. The breathtaking sunsets are my favorite!

I hope that when I am 85 years old, I am as sharp, direct and energetic as you are. You are amazing!

Thank you for hiring me to sell your home. It was a pleasure working with you!

NAR Says that Nearly Half of Homes Selling in 30 Days

The National Association of Realtors indicates that 45% of homes listed for sale across the country sold within 30 days on the market.

The survey indicates that houses in Florida sold within 46 to 60 days.*

In May 2015, homes were on the market for an average of 40 days.  This is the shortest market time since May 2011.

The homes that sold in 30 days were in Colorado, Texas, Washington, Idaho and Kansas.

The homes that took the longest to sell were in Alabama, West Virginia, Mississippi and Arkansas at 90 or more days on the market.

*This seems interesting to me, as we are seeing buyers flocking to homes at certain price points the first few days on the market.  And, often we are in multiple offer situations. When priced right, homes here are gone in the first week. 

‘Just Looking’ at Homes for Sale… Those Days are Gone

I was googling a search online this morning and found an article I had written in November 2008 about buyers ‘just looking’ at homes for sale.  I had written that the number of homes currently in the Brevard County real estate market was plentiful. Buyers could look at a house multiple times and take their time in making a decision on whether they would make an offer to purchase it.

Well, today, times have changes. Our inventory of homes available for sale is currently down. Today, buyers don’t have the luxury of looking at a home over the course of a couple of weeks. The good homes are gone in the first week… sometimes even in the first couple of days. We are seeing multiple offers on homes, at varying price points.

Sometimes buyers have to move quickly when they see a house they like. They can’t linger on the decision too long. It could mean the difference between getting the house and someone else getting it.

Some buyers are getting in bidding wars just to ‘win’ the house they want. But, be cautious, bidding wars can trigger emotions and make some buyers pay more for a home than they normally would or should. Remember, the house has to appraise, based on comparable homes that have recently sold, in the area. If it doesn’t appraise, the buyer and seller may have to agree to a compromise to make the transaction happen… the seller would reduce the price to the appraised value or the buyer would have to bring additional money to closing, above the contract price (if his lender allows). If they can’t come to terms, then both parties could be right back to square one. The house may have to go back on market and  would have to appraise for the next buyer, unless a cash buyer with no contingencies wants it. And, the buyer would be out looking at houses for sale again in this market of dwindling inventory.

In the Brevard County Real estate market, for now, the days of ‘just looking’ at homes for sale are gone.

Read the article here, Just looking at homes for sale November 2008.

Where are Mortgage Interest Rates?

In real estate, mortgage interest rates are always a hot topic. Interest rates have been hovering above 4.00%. The projection is that they are going up. When interest rates go up, that affects a consumer’s buying power.  Higher rates often mean a lower purchase price of a home, as lenders look at the debt to income ratio of a borrower. Debt to income ratio is the percentage of a consumer’s monthly gross income that goes towards paying debts in comparison to their monthly income.

The interest rate on my mortgage is currently 5.875%.  I remember refinancing to get that rate. It wouldn’t benefit me to refinance again, to get a lower rate now, as I anticipate having it paid off within 18 months.  I wouldn’t be able to recoup the cost of the refinance in just the 18 months I take to pay if off.

I remember when interest rates were 13%. Heck, I remember when they were 18%. But, I also remember when houses were selling here in Melbourne for $25,000 to $50,000. Those same houses today are going for $150,000 and up.

Interest rates are projected to go up. And the word from analysts is to buy before they get too high. That’s probably pretty good advice.

To get an idea of what interest rates look like, check here. Your best source of information will be a local lender.

Where are mortgage interest rates?

Come On, Jump in for a Swim

Come On, Jump in for a Swim

The weather here has been a sweltering 90 degrees, with high humidity.  I can feel the sweat rolling down my back when I’m outside in the middle of the day. It’s hard to find a place to cool off.  It seems like the air conditioner never clicks off, trying to keep the inside temperature comfortable.

We’ve been swimming in the pool, at the end of these blistering days, to cool off. The water temperature is great! I remember when my girls were younger and they were in the pool all the time. They were like two little fish. During the Summer it seems like they lived in their bathing suits. Our backyard was filled with kids. Their skin would be shriveled like raisins from swimming so long. We’d practically have to drag them out, to get them to take a break to eat. Most nights we’d all swim after dinner and play family pool games. Those were the days.

We see quite a few homes with pools here in Florida. In higher price points, in some areas, homebuyers expect to find a screened pool in the backyard of a home for sale. If a house doesn’t have one, some buyers will move on to the next property. Depending on what area and what price range the house is in, determines how much value a screened pool will add to a property.

As the years have passed, our girls are grown, life is a bit more hectic. They’ve got full time jobs and they are both in school. It’s a bit of a challenge to coordinate family time together, but we try every chance we can. The pool is no longer full of teenagers, but when the sun starts setting, if we don’t have appointments with clients, we stop to relax for a dip and enjoy our quiet time.

Come on, Jump in for a Swim

Don’t Look Now, Snake in the Garage

I was headed out to an appointment and found this guy in the garage 2 feet from my van.  At first I think I just about jumped out of my skin. It surprised me. I think I scared the snake, too. Then, I grabbed a broom and gently guided him outside. He slithered into the bushes and disappeared.

Occasionally, we see a snake, here.  Usually they are outside in the bushes or hanging out in the garden.  They like basking in the sun.

There are approximately 46 snakes native to Florida and most of them are not aggressive.  The best advice when you see a snake is to leave it alone. They don’t typically attack unless provoked.

I have a friend that can identify snakes. When he sees one he usually scoops it up and relocates it to a safer place. Isn’t there a rhyme, “when red touches black a friend of jack, when red touches yellow kills a fellow?”

Snakes eat rodents, insects and slugs.

Real Estate Reality TV, For your Viewing Pleasure

Real Estate Reality TV… It’s not Real

I don’t watch much TV.  I suppose it’s because I can’t find anything to watch. Today, television is riddled with Reality TV shows.

I don’t like Reality TV.  There, I said it.

I don’t care for the Real Estate Reality TV shows.  They are on for their entertainment value.  It gives people a false sense of what’s real when they are ready to get in the market to buy, sell or to invest in real estate. If Reality TV portrayed real world experiences, people would stop watching and the shows would quickly fade off the air.

Only on Reality TV… can you have an open house, the first day a house goes on the market with 10 different buyers getting into a bidding war. The house sells for tens of thousands over list price! Houses rarely sell at an open house. They typically sell after a scheduled appointment with a buyer. And, the house must appraise, based on comparable homes sold in the area.

Only on Reality TV… can a buyer find 3 absolutely gorgeous homes for sale, at the same time, in their desired neighborhood & school district that suit their wants, needs and price point. And, then those buyers have ample time to go home and think about which one they’d like to buy. When they decide, all 3 houses are still waiting for this buyer to come and choose the one they’re going to buy. In our current market, our inventory is low, so often it takes some time to find the right house for a buyer. The good homes typically go quickly. So today, when a buyer finds a home that suits their wants and needs we recommend they not take too long to think on it. There are other buyers out in the market, too.

Only on Reality TV…can two polished real estate agents sit down and negotiate a $5 Million real estate deal verbally, with their buyers and sellers on the telephone, over lunch. Real estate transactions can take time to negotiate, and they are typically done in writing, if even in an e mail.

Only on Reality TV… can buyers close on a house in 30 days, without home inspections, property appraisals, discussions of mortgage underwriting guidelines and discussions about securing homeowner’s insurance.  There are required steps that are taken in real estate purchases, to be sure that today’s guidelines are followed.

Only on Reality TV… can you paint a house various colors of the rainbow and have buyers fall in love with the house and pay full price. Too much color can turn buyers off. Neutral colors are best. Buyers will often discount the purchase price substantially on a home with lots of color, to figure in the cost of having the home painted.

Only on Reality TV…can a buyer flip a house in a couple of months and walk away with a huge chunk of money. There are various costs to consider in a flip… the cost of the house, the cost of sweat equity (paying yourself for the hours you’ve put in), mortgage closing costs, monthly mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, holding costs, homeowners association fees, utilities and real estate commission to sell, etc.. And again, the home has to appraise. If the house is being sold too quickly after purchased, a lender can require 2 different appraisals and repair receipts from the flipper.

Only on Reality TV… do real estate agents make high 6 figure commissions, or a full 6% and 7% of the sales price on each transaction. Real estate commissions are typically split 50/50% between the listing agent and the buyer’s agent.. And, then typically that 50% is split again (broker splits can vary) with each agent’s real estate broker.

Reality TV is made for the audience’s viewing pleasure. It’s entertainment (or so they say). It has it’s loyal followers. If people didn’t watch those shows, they wouldn’t be on TV.

I don’t watch Reality TV shows. Each week when we talk to buyers, sellers and investors, someone mentions an episode they saw on Reality TV.  And, I remind them, “Real Estate Reality TV… it’s not real.”

*Please note, that real estate is local in nature, Every market is different.