One thing that showing hundreds of homes through the years teaches you is this...Home Sellers can do a lot to show their home in a manner that gets it SOLD! 

I have always found it mildly astonishing that homeowners who spend thousands of dollars in upgrades and improvements to their homes fail to invest time and effort in a few critical areas to ensure that their homes are perceived well in the eyes of potential buyers. 

Some homeowners might be surprised to find out how far a little money will go.  Particularly when you put $500 against a backdrop of tens of thousands of dollars which are left on the table because a home does not sell or sells far below the listing price.

Here are just a few Simple Things to Keep in Mind when you are showing your home to ensure it shows Sold!

Show It!...

In a competitive market, there are hundreds of homes vying for a buyer's attention.  There are some homes which don't receive even ONE showing request in a 6 month period.  When you place your home on the market, be prepared to SHOW IT.  If you're not...WAIT, until you are.  Yes, it may cost you a little in sleep and inconvenience, but in this market, if a real estate agent calls to show your home when there are 50 others like it...don't count on being given a second chance. 

Tip:  Save time, money & frusteration by being AND staying ready to sell!

Clean It!

If you can't clean your home...hire someone else to do it for you.  Why deduct Thousands of dollars from you life through a possible sale just because you can't or don't know how to clean a home.  Buyers love the smell of 'clean' about as much as they like the smell of 'new.'  A good new home cleaning crew will cost about $250...loss of a sale or a discount on a home on the market for over 6 months...15-20 percent of your initial asking price. 

Tip:  Even if you don't hire a stager, do your own research.  Visit Open Houses for local builders & show rooms of furniture stores to get ideas.  Then visit a thrift shop to pick up accessories at rock bottom prices.

 Clear It!

De-Cluttering is probably the single biggest thing that most homeowners can do fairly inexpensively to Show their Home Sold! Hire a storage unit...beg your friends to store stuff in their basement; whatever you have to do...get your stuff out!

But, to clear your home most effectively will require going beyond the basics of clearing out excess furniture and belongings and neutralizing.  Sometimes you need to do just a little more to be most effective...

Tip:  There are moving services which will store your stuff and then move it to your next home for one fee.  Look into this sort of company for storing & moving to save money.

Stage It!

Hiring the Services of a professional stager to primp your home may be the best investment you can make in the home selling process.  Staging does not need to be an exorbitant cost.  In fact a good staging experience will probably save money  by attracting more potential buyers or creating a better response to your home when it is shown. 

Think about this...What bank or investment fund would give this sort of potential return on your investment of $500?  Where else could you put in $500 and enjoy living in a nice, clean well arranged environment with the potential of making it back fairly quickly by a Sale? 

Tip:  Make sure your stager has been trained and certified.  Ask to see pictures of homes they have staged and for references.  A good stager is worth it!  Good Staging will make you more money from your home sale!

Copyright 2008  Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

If your home could talk...

Yes, I've been wanting to do this for awhile.  Don't act so surprised to discover my voice, you 're talking all the time, now it's time for you to listen to what I have to say.  I'm aware that you have decided to leave me and move on.  Hey, I'm taking it a little hard right now, but that's OK.  There's a time for everything. 

I hold no hard feelings and heaven knows we have shared many special  moments and memories.  I've been there when you were up and I've hung in there with you when you've been down. We've celebrated  victories and shared some tought stuff in defeat.  I've been around the block a few times; this isn't my first time on the market, but that fact doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye. 

Now, let's get down to business.  Like I said, I know you've decided to move and having done this before, I thought you might benefit from some tips.  First, please  don't make this any harder than it has to be.  After all, I'm the one who will have strange people trampling through me, critiquing my figure,... I mean structure and personality.  These strangers don't know I hear them when they make disparaging comments or pry into areas which are well, should I say kinda private.  I'm going to be the one jabbed and poked by inspectors and who knows who else.  Sooooo....let's be smart about how we go about this.

Please do me a favor and do your homework.  There's no reason to be uninformed about how much I'm worth.  Yes, I know I'm priceless...but honey it's almost over and we must both move on.  There are many FREE services from real estate professionals which you can take advantage of, but remember you get what you pay for.  Don't bore me with interminable interviews, decide on your top selections, get your recommendations and then do the job right with someone who knows what they're doing and can provide evidence to support their results.

Next, clean me up!  You & I hang out all the time, and we're comfortable together.  But, this is company and I like to look good.  I'm still pretty vain, that hasn't changed much since you first saw me and fell in love at first sight.  I'd prefer YOU be critical with me than have strangers pick me apart.  Please get up close and very personal.  Where am I showing signs of wear and tear?  I'm a great lady, but a nip, tuck, or pick me up coat of paint will do wonders for my ah...personality.  Don't forget to clear all the clutter  and junk which has stuffed up my airspace big time over our years together.  Give me room to breathe, after all even houses have their moments if you know what I mean.

Fix the stuff we both know needs attending to.  And for goodness sakes, be honest about my history.  Don't make me an unwilling partner to any lying shinanigans!  Don't forget to spruce me up outside as well.  After all, I can only make one great first impression.  Yes, this is important to me...need I say it again...the vanity thing, surely you understand.

I'd also appreciate if you'd take some time to talk with me.  I love hearing about the good times that were shared within my walls.  I may not understand why you feel it necessary to leave, but I accept your decision.  Remembering our times together helps me prepare to meet the new homeowners.  I want them to feel my welcome when they enter the door.  I want to fill their lives with love and laughter in the way I did yours.  You can help make this transition easier by taking down mementos of our special times together for you know that I will always be in your heart.  However, my new owners will need to create their own special moments within my space, so give them a clean slate to work with.

Lastly, know that I will always love you.  I hold your presence warm, tight and safe within my inner sanctum.  Even as I open my arms to once again welcome others who I hope will treat me well, your echos will still meander through the memories of my mind.  I'll find ways to share them; sometimes in unexpected fashion, but be assured most of your secrets will ALWAYS remain safe with me.

With  regards,

Your Home

© Audu Real Estate 2007

Staging Your Home for Memorable Showings!

It is important to understand that an agent who shows up at your door for a scheduled showing is probably showing 5-10 properties in single day to their buyer.  After about 5 homes, all of them begin to look the same and it can become difficult to remember what you saw or liked.

A well organized agent will remind their buyer to bring a digital camera or may even furnish one for them.  This is very helpful but in the event that you are not fortunate enough to have an agent with this type of foresight ring your doorbell, there are some things that you can do as a Homeowner to make your home showing a memorable experience for potential buyers and for the real estate agent who may have other buyers for whom your home is just perfect!

For starters...pick up all clutter.  Your home should be neat and clean.  This includes doing the dishes (not having the dishwasher running while buyers are touring your home); emptying trash cans, clearing all counters including those located in the kitchen and bathrooms, and in winter having a good mat at the front door unless you want ice and snow tracked through your clean house.

In addition, I always recommend putting on all lights.  The reason for this is that dark corners are never inviting.  Light encourages us to explore the unfamiliar...remember this is what your home is  to potential buyers right now.  Bathrooms and kitchens are inspected with the nose and eyes.  By this I mean that they should smell clean and look clean!  This is where the most intimate moments are spent; potential buyers are repelled by evidence or essence left over by previous inhabitants.  I recommend rubbing down counter-tops with a paper towel in the kitchen and bathroom areas soaked in Lysol Fresh Scent prior to leaving your home for a showing.

All beds should be made and clothing items picked up from the floor in the bedroom.  You do not want a potential buyer to make the unwanted discovery of dirty socks or lingerie in an unexpected way.  These are not the kinds of memories you want to remain with a buyer after they leave your house.

It is a welcoming site to come into a neat cheerful kitchen and to see the snack bar or kitchen table set with an inviting table setting.  Remember the kitchen table is where most of us make important decisions.  A plate of cookies strategically placed on the table or counter encourages potential buyers to linger and consider your home as an option.  That is what you want. 

Lastly, don't forget the music!  Music helps us to relax and can release stress if its the right type.  At Audu Real Estate we offer detailed Staging appointments which will help you with the proper arrangement and/or purchase of furniture items and accessories to make your home look its best.  Studies indicate that a properly staged home can increase the market value of a property up to 10% above one which is not well presented.  To Book a Staging appointment, please contact our office at  616-791-0511 or e-mail us at info@auduhomes.com.  In a challenging real estate market, no advantage should be enexplored!

©2006 Audu Real Estate All rights reserved