April 18, 2018
With the internet (Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, etc.) people wanting to list their home for sale are almost overwhelmed with data . . . national and regional sales statistics, economic housing forecasts, even how many ‘hits’ their listing is getting on the web.
This isn’t all good. Stressing out over why the home didn’t get a good offer in the first week may be misreading the reality of the real estate market. Especially the local one.
“Down Below” where homes list for a million and more, people line up to BID, usually over the asking price.
But this is Siskiyou County. There is very little tech industry here. Very little industry at all, actually. Homes and salaries are far, far below the metro areas.
But today’s seller sees the ‘down below’ picture because we are maybe too well informed. “What’s wrong with my home?” we hear a lot. It’s a personal thing of the most emotional type. We Realtors do a lot of counseling and not just financial. There’s nothing ‘wrong’ with your home, you’ve done a wonderful job and enjoyed it for all these years.
A few curb appeal things? Sure. But stay with things that show . . . light rooms (put something bright red in the furthest corner to pull the eye and make the room look larger). Fresh paint on the front door. Flowers out front. Lights on in ALL rooms (including closets, pantries, etc.).
It’s easy to spend money hoping it will come back in the sale but history disputes this. Housing statistics show that 70% of every dollar is the best you can hope to come back home in your sale price. Translated that says I’m going to invest 30% of everything I spend just to ATTRACT a buyer. That’s why the brightness thing above. Light bulbs are cheap.
Bruce