Why Some Homes Sell More Easily And How To Make Them Sell At a Great Price

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Everyone who puts their home on the market wants to sell it and sell well.  So what is it that sets those people apart who are able to powerhouse their way into a deal very soon after they list their property?  How do these people manage to successfully get the price they want and with the terms that they are happy with?  The answer lies in five simple, but very effective aspects of selling real estate that experienced Realtors have come to learn after years in the business.

Location, Location, Location!

Yep, that famous saying you’ve heard has a lot of truth to it.  How and where your property is situated makes a huge difference in terms of your selling success.  Things like being centrally located (to the city), being within a good school system, having access to shopping, dining and entertainment facilities plus nearby recreational venues, all add to the value of a property’s location.

How’s That Property Looking?

Believe it or not, what all those design TV shows keep saying, is true.  How you present your home when you put it up for sale has a lot to do with your potential selling success.  Do not underestimate the power of curb appeal.  By spending a little bit to update the house, in almost all cases, it translates to a far better received house on the market.  Fix things that are broken, try to decorate or set up things in a neutral way so that buyers can imagine themselves in the home.  A bright red wall, for example, is not everyone’s idea of a perfect family room color.

How Much Did You Say That Was?

The single most important factor when looking at a home’s selling capability is its price.  Buyers are definitely very savvy, especially these days when it’s a buyers’ market.  Not only will they be fully aware of area property values but they will also call you on it if you overprice your home.  In a market where buyers have considerable more inventory to choose from than if it was more a seller’s market, it is very important to focus on setting a realistic price.

Terms, Perks and Other Deal-Sweetening Things

Of COURSE the cool people that agreed to throw in the backyard Jacuzzi will sell their house before you sell yours.  The trick is to know and understand exactly how to entice the buyers into wanting your home.  What are the ways to do that?  Some of them are in your hands, like offering to add extra items like curtains or fixed furnishings – while other factors are market-dependent, like the current interest rates.  But at the end of the day, one of the key reasons successful sales happen is because the terms were favorable and agreeable to both parties.

Boy Was That Ever Easy, Thanks To The Realtor’s Experience!

Most homeowners who try to sell their home on their own, what’s known as a FSBO in real estate jargon, usually don’t.  The simple fact of the matter is that by going through a Realtor, homes have a far better chance of selling – and this is for many reasons.  But it’s not just any Realtor that is the key to success; rather it’s choosing an experienced professional who knows their stuff.
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As long as you are market-savvy, you understand what buyers are looking for and are willing to accommodate the things that will set you apart and give you the edge over other sellers, your property should sell.  And even more so, by following through with the five things that homes do sell with success, you will sell your home and sell it well.

Come to the 2011 Cox Classic with Team Elliott!

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The is the 4th annual client appreciation week and we can't think of a better place to celebrate than the 18th green of Champions Run. Come to our booth Thursday - Sunday and enjoy the Omaha tradition of the Cox Classic. We will have drinks, snacks and best of all the members of Team Elliott! We also have extra grounds passes to the event so if you're interested call or email us. We look forward to seeing you on the course!

Ten Things Real Estate Agents Help Take Care of When Buying a Home

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You may have heard the common question asking why anyone would want to hire an agent to help buy a home. The fact of the matter is that real estate agents have many services to offer on all sides of the real estate equation. We all know what they do to assist us in selling our homes but did you know that there is equally as much, if not more, that they can assist us with when buying? Industry jargon coins it Buyer’s Value Proposition – and to make it simple we’ve listed ten things, from start to finish, helping to clarify exactly why, if you’re in the market to buy a property, hiring a real estate agent is a very smart initial move to make.

Needs Analysis

Agents thoroughly assess your needs as a buyer and assist you with identifying how you define the ideal home. They focus on the things that matter most to buyers in a home so that finding the right home is a much more fruitful endeavor.

Pre-Qualification and Pre-Approval
Choosing a loan officer can be a daunting task if you are out there on your own. An agent has a solid rapport with qualified loan officers in the region and they connect you with one to suit your needs, see through the process of getting pre-qualified and then approved. Terms are then negotiated to be in the buyer’s favor and assistance with finding the best possible mortgage financing is also provided.

Neighborhood Profiles

Understanding and listing a buyer’s selection of neighborhoods, real estate agents also compile data for each locale that helps to center in on which neighborhood is the right one.

Home Search Multiple List Services

Helping you to gain access to a large number of properties, agents arrange a home search process that makes accessing and perusing a MLS much simpler and useful at the same time. Not only that, your agent will keep you updated regularly, provide you assistance with drive-by home visits and coordinate home showings of the ones you are interested in.

Making Offers

When you center in on a home after going through the entire prequalification and then search process, the last thing you want to do is to make a decision that could hurt your chances of getting that ideal home. Agents go through the process with you, offering advice on terms so that you can be confident in your decision. Once the offer is decided, the contract is filed out with your agent’s help.

Negotiation to Buy

One less thing for you to worry about, your real estate agent will handle the process of taking your offer to the seller and his/her agent and negotiate the purchase on your behalf.

Coordination of Vendors

With so many vendors also in the picture for things ranging from the mortgage, title and insurance to other important aspects of the real estate deal, some coordination is required. As real estate agents, most deal with vendors on a regular basis and your own agent can help connect you to reputable vendors.

Preparation Prior to Closing

The main thing to be careful on is the documents right before closing on your new home. With assistance on all pre-close preparation, including document generation, agents also provide consultations to make sure the buyer is comfortable with all stages of the process and is ready to proceed.

Closing of the Sale

Providing a watchful eye and a helpful hand, real estate agents play a pivotal role in making sure all things are lined up during the closing stage of your new home purchase. Working to make everything as smooth as possible, you will be guided and then provided help throughout, until the final transaction is successful.

After Closing Assistance

Once all is said is done, the real work begins. Your agent will provide you support and backing to make the move-in process as smooth and effortless as possible. Whether assistance with moving your household items or learning about the new neighborhood you will be given ample help on that front, or in any thing you may need.

It’s an often misconstrued fact that real estate agents are very useful for the all-around real estate process; whether you are looking to sell or buy, you can definitely benefit from the supportive hands of your local agent.

Twelve Top Trends in Kitchen Design and Décor for 2011

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1. Green Design

Long before the economy reached where it is these days, the concept of energy-conserving, green living was already fast becoming mainstream.  Incorporating elements of green design into the kitchen is a hot trend that remains on the top of many industry experts’ to do list.  Using eco-friendly or recycled materials, bringing in energy-efficient appliances and incorporating natural sources of energy such as solar panels or skylights are some ways to implement green design into your kitchen space.

2. Elements of Nature

Bringing the outside in is a theme that will carry throughout the year and beyond.  As part of our love affair with all things green, elements of design that incorporate nature through things like pebbles embedded into walls, natural waterfalls, organic materials like bamboo and highlighting the colors of nature are popular.

3. Cool, Vibrant Color

Moving on from the tradition and very blah beiges, an influx of color has taken over as the new, hot trend in kitchen décor.  Splashes of oranges, reds, pinks and vibrant hues of blue and green – all draw attention to one of the most frequented spaces in the home.  Spanish tiles, painted cabinetry, unique backsplashes and, of course, display pieces and fixtures – are infuse color.  Warm and inviting, interesting and uplifting – lots of colors liven the space.  Spruce up the kitchen by using bold splashes of paint or wallpaper on one or two walls, and even the ceiling.

4. Raising Kitchens to New Heights

Gallery kitchens are seen more and more often, with taller cabinetry that reaches even greater heights than typically found in most kitchens.  Utilizing the wall space as an asset is particularly ideal for condos, apartment spaces or homes with smaller square footages such as those in big cities.  Gallery kitchen space is also a great transition from the main kitchen to the next room.

5. Dark, Exotic Finishes

Where white cabinets, light to medium counter tops, neutral walls and run-of-the-mill fixtures were once the norm, the new trend in both cabinetry and flooring is dark, natural finishes.  Balancing the dark elements of design with some neutral or metallic is a good idea but the overall shift toward espresso dark and chocolate brown looks are not only exotic but also practical.

6. In the Age of Technology

In an age where everything depends on connectivity, we are seeing more kitchens with technology stations incorporated into the design and architecture.  Built-in desk space that provides homeowners with an area to write out bills, make phone calls, watch television, use the computer or sit back and relax, is a hot item lately.

7. Alternative Countertops

Keeping with the less formal look of many new kitchens lately, a new choice of countertops is soapstone.  Though granite remains the hottest option, homeowners are now turning to soapstone for its natural and more rustic feel.  The look especially complements kitchens with these days’ bright color schemes, as it offsets the heavy emphasis on color elsewhere in the space.

8. Customized Storage Solutions

There is never enough space and there is always room for improvement on how that space is organized.  Customized storage is particularly hot in kitchens as the new generations of foodies continues to breed, meaning that many unique and interesting tools, materials and appliances are used.  Storage solutions designed to accommodate a homeowner’s particular needs is currently on many people’s wish list.

9. Layers of Light

Gone are the days of just one ceiling light fixture and a hanging pendulum light over the kitchen table.  Now, multiple layers of light is the happening thing.  Providing new dimensions of aesthetic and functional design, there are several areas through which a kitchen can be illuminated.  Accent lighting installed under cabinets, along the sideboards and open cabinet interiors, task lighting designed to focus on a particular display area and varying levels of functional lighting give homeowners different degrees of light to choose from.

10. Smart, Savvy Appliances

A streamlined wall of kitchen cabinets with hidden features creates a larger, fuller and more complete look.  Unlike the traditional kitchen space that is broken up by major appliances, the new trend that is incorporated in kitchens of all sizes and shapes is integrated appliances.  With the same exterior surface as the rest of the cabinets, integrated appliances are camouflaged, lending a customized look to the space.

11. High Glass is High Class

Glass tiling for kitchen backsplashes is a trend heavily used by top interior designers.  Lending a translucent and airy look that is not only classy and elegant, but also easy to maintain and practical – glass elements are the new neutral.

12. Open Shelves

Gone with the old and in with the new cabinets that are unlike typical cabinets with no dimension that lack dimension and interest, incorporating open shelving into the kitchen is a trend that instantly enhances the space.  Open shelving allows homeowners to show off and display their wares while utilizing the storage space simultaneously.  Since there is a change from one cabinet to the next it lends an air of interest that is aesthetically pleasing.

Surprise! Ourr iPad 2 Winner – And 4th of July!

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Congratulations to our winner, JoEllen Stock, who you can see smiling wide in this week’s video blog. Keep checking us out – you never know when it could be YOUR turn to come in and pick up your prize!  With all the good news with our improving market we’re looking forward to celebrating Independence Day and wish you and yours a very Happy July 4^th!

Understanding the Difference Between Online Resources and a Realtor When Pricing Your Home

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The Internet can be a great resource for a host of things centered on buying or selling your home but in some cases, the most you can expect to gain is a basic understanding of things. For something as serious and important as pricing your home to either value it or sell it, relying on the Internet can only go so far. Here we’ve outlined some key differences between the figures you will yield from online sources versus those that have been compiled by your local Realtor.

ACCURACY IS VITAL

In today’s market especially, accurately pricing your home to sell is essential. With it being a buyers’ market, you will have to gain a solid understanding of all factors that contribute toward your property’s value. There can be negative repercussions of pricing a home either too low or too high. One such scenario is if there was a seasoned buyer who had taken the time to research in advance of searching for homes. That buyer’s knowing what to expect in the local market seeing your overpriced home could result in a turn-off and you could lose the sale. By the same token, you stand to get the shorter end of the stick in case of not knowing what you could have charged. Spending a little more time and/or expense can make a huge difference in the end outcome.

ONLINE TOOLS AND CALCULATORS

There are more than several websites where anyone can log on, put in their zip code and be given an instant “analysis” of their real estate value. The figures that appear as results from searches made through online resources stem from a conglomeration of several weeks and sometimes months of data collected from a particular region.

Websites such as www.zillow.com, www.realtytrac.com orwww.trulia.com offer a great way to get a generic idea of the value that homes in your region are going for or have gone for recently. As an added resource to other services also offered on these sites, the goal is not to assist homeowners in assigning a selling price on their property based on the data, rather to offer a snapshot on sales and pricing data for the area. In fact, for many people it is the perfect tool to add an extra edge when determining the fair market value of your home, along with other factors.

PROFESSIONAL COMPARABLE MARKET ANALYSIS

While online real estate tools are a great way to get a preliminary idea, they are only going to yield a figure that will show you where to start. To get an accurate assessment, you will need to avail the professional services of a Realtor. The only way to get an accurate “reading” of what the market rates are for homes in your vicinity and your neighborhood in particular, is to have a comparative market analysis conducted by a Realtor who understands your neighborhood. There is a good chance that they have dealt with properties in the area on a first-hand basis, regularly interact with the agencies and organizations that deal with very homes in your neighborhood and are familiar with the people in various facets that you will end up needing to interact with yourself, as the seller of your home.

Realtors conduct a detailed Comparable Market Analysis (sometimes also called Competitive Market Analysis) through a series of data compilation of area homes and properties, considering factors such as amount of land, the square footage and number of bedrooms or typical amenities in the neighborhood. But homeowners can also opt to delve into accurate detail about their property’s value by relying on an independent appraiser. Also, through the use of CMA data the County Tax Assessor determines the value of your property taxes.
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When you are pricing your home to sell, it is vital that you use all available resources. At first, it makes sense to “shop around” and get to know the generalities before you head for the specifics. And as with most transactions dealing with your real estate world, it is always best to rely on your Realtor for quality, effective and accurate information that is relevant to you and YOUR market.

And the winner of the iPad 2 is.....