Real Estate Information Archive

If you are debating whether to sell your house for sale this fall or even early next year, there are many reasons not to wait! We have a FREE Fall Sellers Guide, Things to Consider When Selling Your Home, that gives you 5 reasons to sell this fall.  Things like the importance of pricing right from the beginning, how an increase in interest rates will impact home sales, and so much more!  No obligation, of course! Download your FREE Sellers Guide then contact us get started with your home sale.

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Information courtesy of Montgomery AL Realtors Sandra Nickel Hat Team!

Today we are going to let you in on a few ideas of what characteristics home buyers are looking for these days so that you can get top dollar for your home.  There is no better time than now to get busy about getting your home ready to sell.

• One of the most important things that home buyers these days are looking for is that there is a laundry room in the home.  Most folks do not want a laundry closet but an actual room where they can escape in order to get their laundry done.  A great way to catch the eye of the women of the family is to have a nice laundry room  with updated appliances and a few extras as well.  Many of these extra’s can be done DIY style.
   
• Exterior lighting is another way to catch potential home buyer’s attention quickly.  As the days grow longer and it stays light longer many folks will be driving around looking at homes late into the evening.  By lighting your home up on the outside you are doing a great service towards selling your home more quickly. 
   
• Replacing old windows for new energy efficient windows is a characteristic that many home buyers may be looking for.  With the high costs of energy these days, folks are doing all they can to lower their electric bills.  Buying energy efficient windows will help lower electric bills dramatically.
   
• Extra storage space in your garage is a feature that most men will love in a new home.  By taking time to add some extra storage in your garage before a sale you may be adding extra change in your pocket. 
   
• Eat-in kitchens are essential for a home to have for most people these days.  If your kitchen is not eat-in you may want to do a little bit of remodeling before you put your house on the market. 
   
• Kitchen pantry storage is of up-most regard for most home buyers these days as well.  If you already have adequate pantry space then it would be a good idea for you to purchase some organizational shelves and such to make it less cluttered and more organized. 

These are just some of the many characteristics that potential home buyers are looking for in today's market.   If you can, it will serve you well to add at least one of these to your home before you put it on the market.

Information provided by Montgomery AL Realtors Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

If you’re a seller of a home you need to understand the complexities of negotiating. This is particularly true if you are attempting to sell your home by yourself. This is known as a “for sale by owner” or FSBO.

Most people understand that selling a home is complicated. But just about the least understood component of being a seller is the need to do a lot of negotiating. Even if you are working with a Realtor it is good to know what is going on, often behind the scenes. Why? So you have an appreciation of what the Realtor is doing for you.

Here are just a few of the types of negotiations you need to be ready to deal with…

• The buyer’s agent whose sole responsibility it is to protect the best interest of the buyer, not yours.
• The buyer who wants the best deal possible from you.
• The home inspection company which is working for the buyer and almost always finds problems with the property for sale.
• The termite company if there are challenges by the buyer.
• The buyer’s lender if the structure of the financing requires the seller’s participation.
• The appraiser if there is a question of value.
• The title company if there are any challenges with permits, certificates of occupancy, or the survey.
• The municipal government if there a problems with permits or certificate of occupancy.
• The survey company if there any discrepancies or challenges.

Every one of the above participants in a real estate transaction has special interests and specialized knowledge about a different component in the sales process. Each one has to be negotiated with on some level to make sure the sale gets to closing smoothly.

It takes a lot of skill to understand everyone’s interests and how those interests fit into the bigger picture. Some of their interests and intertwined, and some are very specific to a given specialty. Some of the interests are very objective and others are very subjective and emotional.

In addition to all of that, your emotions as the seller tend to run high. It is extremely difficult to remain calm and objective when dealing with other people over the sale of your home. That is because you are not just selling a house and a property…you are selling the home you and your family have lived in. It’s personal.

The primary message is to be very careful about making a decision to go the FSBO route and be very selective when deciding on a Realtor to be your agent of negotiation.

Information courtesy of Montgomery AL Realtors Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

If you’re considering selling your home in the near future here are some things to be thinking about. Staging your home most commonly refers to paying attention to how your home shows on the inside to buyers. Curb appeal refers to how it looks to buyers on the outside. Staging and curb appeal are often thought of as separate issues.

However, if you think of them together the results will often be more than just the sum of the parts. The things you do to improve on by staging and curb appeal may even enhance your enjoyment of your  home for the time before you sell. Let’s consider staging for selling in this blog…

There are a of lot things you can do yourself without spending big dollars, especially if you start well ahead of selling. “Streamlining” is a new term that encompasses “de-cluttering.” Things that we all get used to living with do not always make a positive impression on a buyer. So, look around your living environment and be honest about what you could maybe do without, especially for the short term.

You might find that you would enjoy a little less stuff around right now. That includes things that are in storage. If you haven’t used something in 2 or 3 years maybe you could do without it? For the things that you really do want to have handy, is there a better way to store them? Here are some easy staging ideas you can do yourself.

Talk with your favorite Realtor to get some suggestions. They may even know a reasonably priced staging professional who can help. But, if you’re the type to do it yourself there are all sorts of tips on the internet. A good start is to do some planning. Make a checklist for yourself to help organize the effort for the big picture.

Also think about things that can make a big impression. An example of a high impact effort that looks at both indoors and outdoors is dressing up the entry into your home. That idea and 12 other tips are included in an article you can access here. Work your way through your checklist and keep thinking inside and outside together. Over a relatively short period of time you’ll find you are making significant changes toward selling your home.

Information courtesy of Montgomery AL Real Estate Experts Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

When the 75 year old man who had been widowed four times was asked why he was getting married again, he said “for the little bit that they eat, I wouldn’t want to be without one.”

In a torrential rainfall, you wouldn’t want to be without an umbrella. It is also understandable that when purchasing or selling a home, more and more people want an agent involved.

NAR’s Homebuyers and Sellers Profile states the trend in owners trying to sell their home themselves has declined over the past ten years from 14% in 2003 to only 9% in 2014. Similarly, the number of buyers purchasing directly through an owner has decreased from 2001 to 2014 from 15% to 5%.

It is natural to think that a seller wants to get the highest price for their property while the buyer wants to pay the least possible. Negotiations may be the most valuable service provided by an agent because of the clear conflicts of interest such as the price, terms and condition.

Other areas of contention that could affect a party without an agent:

• The real estate agent who represents the other party
• The attorney who represents only one party
• Home and pest inspectors regarding condition
• The buyer’s lender regarding terms
• The lender’s appraiser regarding value
• The title company in an effort to satisfy challenges to clear title
• Municipal authorities to mitigate code violations

Even when there are two licensed agents involved, there could be a question of representation. This is a discussion that buyers should have with a real estate professional before looking at houses.

Information courtesy of Montgomery AL Realtors Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

If you are in the market to buy or sell a home, you likely will want to do a bit of renovating before doing so.  A great way to spruce up your home in order to sell it is by replacing the old kitchen counter-tops.  This is an easy upgrade that doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg.  Here are a few different kitchen countertop ideas  to get you started in the right direction and weigh the pros and cons of each.  

• Granite counter-tops are all the rage and it seems that everyone is putting these in their homes these days.  A good thing about granite counter-tops is that it is very hard to damage them.  Granite counter-tops are basically fool proof.  They will cost you around 2,000-6,000 but are well worth the money.  The only con I can think of when it comes to granite counter-tops is that you may need to reseal them every now and again because the edges and corners can chip.  This will need to be done by a professional.
•  Soapstone and marble are some other good ideas for replacing your current counter-tops with as well.  These types of materials will cost you anywhere from 2,800-8,400.  If you have this kind of money to sink into your counter-tops you may find that your home will go for a bit more when it comes to selling it.  Soapstone typically scratches easily and may even stain although it is very beautiful.   Marble also can have these types of problems as well being easily damaged from heat.  If you are selling your home you may be able to get a higher asking price if you put marble or soapstone counter-tops in, but if you are going to be living in your house and you want maintenance free counter-tops you may want to stick with granite instead.  You are going to have beautiful new counter-tops not matter which material you decide to use, so whatever you choose to do will be a winning situation.  
• Quartz is always an option when replacing kitchen counter-tops.  It looks a lot like stone but it won’t require as much maintenance.  You can get all sorts of cool colors if you choose quartz counter-tops.  If you are going to go with quartz counter-tops I would suggest that you have the edges rounded as they can sometimes chip and need to be repaired. 

Hopefully this blog has given you a few ideas if you are planning to replace your kitchen counter-tops.   Whether you plan to live in your home for many more years or you are planning to put it on the market, a nice new kitchen counter-top can do a lot for a home. 

Information courtesy of Montgomery AL Real Estate Experts Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

Selling your home can be as easy as one, two, three!  Here we are going to give you a few tips and ideas to make selling your home a bit easier this spring.  If you are willing to take these tips and tricks to heart and do your part to do them to the best of your ability, you will likely reap the rewards of doing so.  Get ready to sell your home this year and move on to your dream home!

1. Make sure that you have done your part to make the outside of your home look nice.   A fresh coat of paint can make a huge difference in the curb appeal of your home.   You can do this yourself or you can hire a professional painter to speed the painting process along. Choose a color that will make your home stand out but also be sure that you choose a color that is neutral and that most people are going to like. 
    
2. Take the plunge and purchase new carpet for your house. If selling your home is important to you, you are going to do what it takes to get it sold for the price you want sold for.  If you are blessed enough to live in an older home that has beautiful hardwoods under the old carpet, you might be able to just pull the old carpet up and expose the nice hardwoods.  It may take a bit of work to get the hardwoods up to par, but this kind of flooring can be a huge plus towards selling your home if you happen to already have it under your carpet.
    
3. Wallpaper is outdated so keep that in mind when you are getting ready to sell your home.  Go ahead and take down all the wallpaper so that you can paint with a nice neutral color that will be pleasing to anyone’s eye. 
    
4. If you have pets in your home, do your best to remove all of their belongings before a showing.  People do not want to see the home as yours, they want to see and envision themselves living in the house and having your pet’s belongings all over the house will not help them to achieve that goal.   If your buyer can see themselves living in your house they are more likely to purchase it.
    
5. Replace all of your lights with high wattage bulbs.  The brighter the better when you are trying to sell your home!  You want your home to pop and grab folk’s attention and this little trick will do just that for you! 

As I said, if you are willing to put forth a bit of extra effort with the above tips and ideas when it comes to selling your house, you will soon find that your house may sell before all the others in your neighborhood! 

Information courtesy of Montgomery Realtor Sandra Nickel.

If your home is currently on the market, you may be tempted to take it off during the busy December holiday season that is currently upon us.  I would suggest that you leave your home on the market regardless of what time of year it is and do your best to make sure that it shows better than any of the other houses out there for sale.  Selling your home during the holidays  doesn’t have to be overwhelming.  Here are a few tips for selling your home during the busiest time of the year!

• Decorate your home like you have never decorated it before to make it stand out above all the other homes that are for sale during the holiday season.  You may not feel like doing this because you are most likely ready to move out and get on with your life, but if you take the time to make your home look beautiful for the holidays, it is most likely going to get the attention of several buyers that might not otherwise take a second look at your home.  Be sure to have a few showings during the evenings if your Realtor will agree so that you can show off your awesome light display.
   
• Have tea or hot cocoa waiting for your potential buyers when they walk through your door for a showing.  You may also want to have holiday music playing throughout your home as well.
   
• Offer some sort of small gift if your potential buyer is willing to purchase your home during the holiday season.  You can make this gift as small or as elaborate as you wish and may want to gear it towards your buyer’s personality.  Your Realtor will be able to help you know what your buyer likes and what kind of incentive will get their attention. 
   
• If anything in your home needs updating, you may want to go ahead and make these improvements,  However if you don’t have enough money in your pocket to take care of the holiday for your family and make the updates at the same time, you may want to take that into consideration when setting an asking price.  You don’t have to jump through hoops to sell your home, however you DO want to get the best price you possibly can, so weigh the pros and cons of going ahead and taking care of updating versus lowering your price and then figure out which one works best for you and your family. 

Don’t let the holidays overwhelm you and make you think that you can’t sell your home during this time of year.  There is no reason to take your home off the market in December.  All you need to do is bling out your home like a huge Christmas present and I am sure folks will take notice! 

Information courtesy of Montgomery AL Real Estate Experts, The Sandra Nickel Hat Team.

I am often asked, “Should sellers fix up their home before selling?” First, let’s talk about the stuff any Realtor is going to tell you so you have context for the rest.

It is easier to sell a house that is attractive to buyers and shows as being well-maintained. That is a matter of doing a little fix-up, but mostly clean-up. Make sure pipes aren’t leaking, for instance. That is relatively easy and not expensive. If your home really needs painting consider doing that. These are not high priced issues. Below we are talking about the expensive items.

If your house has structural defects or other problems that are expensive to fix you have more challenging decisions to make. First, remember that every house has defects! That is simply the nature of a complex structure. Second, savvy buyers know to expect defects so don’t try to hide them. Don’t kid yourself that if a problem can’t be seen easily it won’t be found out.

Most buyers assume there are some problems with any house. If they make an offer that you accept they will pay for a professional home inspector who knows real estate. Good buyer inspectors are very thorough. They are being paid by the buyer and are looking out for the buyer’s interests, not yours. It is not unusual for an inspection report to be in excess of twenty pages…in small type! Being honest with yourself about defects will prepare you better when you are faced with that inspection report.

So, the question becomes “Do I fix the problems before going on the market, or do I make it clear that I am selling “as-is” and discount the price accordingly?” The obvious follow-up question is “If I spend the money before selling, will I get that money back in the final sale price?” The general answer is that it depends on the nature of the defect and magnitude of the likely cost of repair.

Potential buyers are most likely to overestimate the cost if they have to make the repair and under-estimate the cost if the seller is paying. Cost versus value then becomes a negotiation to establishing a final purchase/sale price. If the cost of repair is major, such as a septic system, it makes the most sense to repair it before selling.

The best way to go about making these decisions is to pay a professional home inspector in your real estate market to make an inspection on your behalf as the seller. Their report will give you a thorough list of issues you might be faced with. It will also give you the tool to get estimates from contractors to make the repairs. Then you have a sound basis for making decisions.

An added benefit to having your own inspection on hand is that you have a professional document that you can use when negotiating with a buyer. Be practical and be prepared with your own inspection.

Information courtesy of Montgomery Real Expert Sandra Nickel.

If you're looking to sell your Montgomery AL home in today’s real estate market, you have most likely already read numerous articles advising you to set a realistic price, pay attention to curb appeal, thoroughly clean and de-clutter, remove large pieces of furniture, repaint in neutral colors, remove personal mementos, and the like.  All of this information is valid and useful, but there are other, less-publicized ways to appeal to potential buyers.  Read on for some creative tips on how to generate interest and get the best price possible.

1. Arrange for a pre-listing home inspection.  In addition to facilitating the sale of your home by reassuring potential buyers, an inspection helps you comply with full-disclosure real estate laws.  You can also have a termite inspection done.
    
2. Use online venues and your personal networks to market your house.  Put an ad on Craigslist, use sites like Zillow.com or Trulia.com, get your own URL with the house’s address, promote the house through social media like Facebook and Twitter, and send out a copy of your listing to people on your email list.  Sometimes word of mouth is one of the best ways to market a house.
    
3. Replace all brass fixtures.  Today’s buyers dislike this “cheap” look that may have been fashionable a couple of decades ago, but it has to go if it’s in your home today.  Switch out each light fixture, switch plate, door hinge, knob, and faucet with for ones with a modern oil-rubbed bronze or nickel finish.
    
4. Add power outlets with USB ports in rooms that lack them, especially in the kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms where they’re most needed.  Also, find a place for a wireless router for use with the Internet and flat-screen TVs.
    
5. Offer more unusual incentives.  Paying a buyer’s closing costs, taking care of HOA fees for the first year,  giving a “redecorating” credit, or providing a home warranty for a set time period have become almost expected perks, but you can consider landscaping services, personalized gift certificates (home supply store or a plant nursery, e.g.) or a flexible closing date.
    
6. For equally effective, but more expensive buyer magnets, look into outfitting closets for extra storage (top contenders are an entry closet, a kitchen pantry, and a linen closet) or removing much-maligned “popcorn” ceilings.  Click here for DIY instructions or get estimates from a professional.

Selling this spring? Click here for Questions To Ask Before Listing!

Sandra Nickel and the Hat Team have distinguished themselves as leaders in the Montgomery AL real estate market. Sandra assists buyers looking for Montgomery real estate for sale and aggressively markets Montgomery AL homes for sale. Sandra is also an expert in helping families avoid foreclosure through short sales and is committed to helping families in financial hardship find options. For more information you can visit AvoidForeclosureMontgomery.com.

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