How Can You Ignite Activity on Your Home?

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When your home has been on the market for a while and is not selling, reducing the price isn’t always the right answer. Today we are going to talk about how you and your agent should go about addressing issues with your property not getting a lot of activity.

The first thing is you’ve got to hire the right agent. You need someone who is constantly watching the activity on your home once it goes on the market. It’s the agent’s job to know the heartbeat of the market and to educate you along the way. Once one of our homes goes on the market, we send email updates to them with homes that are in a similar price range and condition that are selling. We want you to know the movement in the market and how you stack up against the competition.

After you’ve done your research, you’ve got to determine what price range the buyers are at. Once you determine what price range that is, you’ve got to decide whether your home belongs in that price range or not. If you are trying to sell your home at $200,000 where the market is extremely slow moving, and all the buyers are at $170,000, you have a decision to make. Do you adjust to where there is more activity, or do you hold out and wait for your price? A good agent can help make this decision easier.

Is your home being advertised out there? We have found that 45% of buyers pick up the Homes and Lifestyles black and white magazine at the grocery store, so we include all of our listings in there. Additionally, 54% of buyers want virtual tours of homes online, and that number is only going to increase.

If you’re thinking of buying or selling or if you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

Seven Tips for Living in a Listed Home

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How do you live in your home while it’s for sale? We have seven tips to offer if you’re living in a home that’s currently on the market!

1. Start packing now. Invest in a storage unit. Start today.
2. Decide to store, sell, chuck, or donate items. There are tons of organizations that would be happy to pick up any unwanted items. 
3. Get squeaky clean. Your home will show better if it’s clean. 
4. Maintain your privacy. Personal items should be out of sight. 
5. Pack away valuables. This includes family keepsakes! 
6. Involve your children and make moving fun. Make it a game!
7. Hide items away last minute before showings. Grab a laundry basket and throw everything in it! Cover it up with a towel and pack it away.

If you have any questions at all, please reach out. Give me a call or send us an email if you’re thinking about buying or selling.

How Can You Add Value Through Your Garage?

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Let’s face it, your garage is the catchall of your home. It’s the place where you put things you don’t want to be in the house. It’s likely not the focal point of your home, there could be oil stains, dust, and who knows what else. Now it’s time to put your home on the market, so you’ve got to clean it up and make it look nice for potential buyers. You can certainly add value to your home through your garage, and we’d like to tell you how to do that today. Here are a few of our best tips:

• Toss out, donate, or put into storage all the things you don’t need, and anything that could be considered unnecessary clutter.
• Pressure wash the floors.
• Consider painting the floors with a high-gloss painting.
• Buy totes or organizers that will help your garage look appealing and put together.

Taking care of little details like this in your garage tells buyers you are a person who takes care of every detail in your home. This will help them feel more assured when they bid on your home and reassure them that it’s a good investment.

If you have any questions for me or anything you’d like me to do a future video on, don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you!

Why Doesn't Your Agent Show Your Northwest Indiana Home?

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Many sellers ask, "Why isn't my agent showing my home as much as other agents?" I asked myself this before I got into real estate, too.

Often, buyers call, ask questions about your home, and then hang up to call their agent. Buyers know we represent your interests. Buyers prefer to see your property with their own agent to negotiate on their behalf.
  

If your agent isn't showing your home often, that could be the reason. If you have any questions about real estate, call or email me. I would be happy to help you!