It’s almost Christmas Eve and this is my
last Let’s Talk Real Estate column for 2009. This year has flown
by and I can hardly believe that 2010 is only 7 days away. I
appreciate all the feedback I have received from the articles I write
each week and I hope in some small way I have helped you with my real
estate advice this year. I wish all my readers a very Merry Christmas
and a Happy, Healthy Prosperous New Year. In the New Year we all
will make New Year’s Resolutions, some of which we keep and others
which we won’t. The top New Years Resolutions every year
include:
Spend
More Time with Family & Friends
,
Exercise More,
Tame
the Bulge
,
Quit Smoking
,
Enjoy Life More
,
Quit Drinking
,
Get Out of Debt
,
Learn Something New
,
Help Others
,
Get Organized
,
AND BUY OR SELL REAL ESTATE TO CHANGE YOUR LIVING CONDITIONS.
As 2010 is just around the corner and
if one of your New Year’s resolutions includes selling your home to
change your living conditions you probably want to know “How can I
get potential buyers to notice my home next year with many similar homes
on the market and the current Grand Bahama Real Estate market conditions.
That is of course a very good question for 2010.
There are many
factors to be aware of when you sell your home particularly with market
conditions changing. You must decide on a price, which involves an
analysis of properties that have recently sold and homes that are currently
on the market. It is useful to get an objective opinion of value
from your realtor. Do not list your property at an unrealistic
price based on what you want or you think it’s worth. Your opinion
and wishful thinking is not what the real market value is in our market.
I think you will all agree many homes are over priced in Freeport and
properties just sit on the market for years.
Placing your property
on the market at the right price is perhaps the single most important
requirement for making your home stand out among local listings next
year. Potential buyers will ask the price of your home first and
then decide whether it measures up to their requirements. Homes
that are priced competitively appeal to qualified buyers and draw a
larger response from ads and word of mouth. Avoid overpricing
your property! A fair list price will encourage offers that are
closer to the asking price, and can even initiate a bidding war if buyers
feel the price is right! An attractive listing price will
keep your home fresh on the market and safeguard against “seller’s
stagnation”.
Once you establish the right price you have to prepare
your home before you list it. Get your home into prime showing
condition by investing in fresh paint and yard work. If you decide to
repaint the interior, choose a neutral palette that will provide a generic
background against which homebuyers can visualize their own furniture.
Remove all clutter, excess furniture, dust and grime. Repair or
replace whatever makes the home look shabby—cracked windows or walkways,
sagging porch steps, chipped plaster, missing roof shingles or drawer
pulls. Refinish your deck if the wood looks worn or faded.
Ask for staging advice from your real estate agent. What most
home shoppers want to see are well-groomed landscaping and an immaculate,
clutter-free interior. These simple and relatively inexpensive
improvements will go a long way in a potential buyer’s eyes.
Homes that are energy-efficient also
have a market advantage – they promise attractive savings on monthly
utility costs
Next year please be willing to discuss
any and all offers with your agent, and be as flexible as possible relative
to the terms of the sale. To all the Let’s Talk Real Estate readers
I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year where all your real
estate dreams become a reality. Until next year.
Contact James at
Coldwell Banker - James Sarles Realty
james@sarlesrealty.com