Preparing Your Home for Sale in the Fall

Selling your home in the fall? Vivid fall foliage will enhance your home's curb appeal. You can't rely on nature alone, though, when preparing your home for sale in the fall.

Rake frequently to keep leaves on the lawn to a minimum.  And as trees shed their leaves, your home will be more exposed; chipped paint or dirty siding will be even more noticeable, so pressure-wash your house and repaint if necessary.  Fall is the perfect time of year for those tasks.  Be sure gutters and downspouts are clean so buyers will know you are diligent about maintaining your home.

Natural decorations such as pumpkins and potted mums or kale can enhance your home's curb appeal.

If your busy schedule doesn't allow time for raking or pressure-washing, just give me a call.  I can provide you with referrals for lawn services, house painters, and handymen who can help you prepare your house for sale in the fall.

Selling Your Home in the Fall

Many people think of spring as the perfect time to put their home on the market.  But listing your home in the fall can have some advantages.

• You will have less competition now as fewer homes are on the market.
• You may get more money for your house because you have less competition.
• While you may have fewer showings, buyers in the fall--and winter for that matter--tend to be more serious and more qualified.
• You always have the option of allowing showings around your busy fall schedule. 
• Corporate transferees are looking online for homes now;  January is the biggest month for corporate relocations. 

Real estate does have seasonal fluctuations, but homes are sold twelve months out of the year.  Let the seasonal nature of the market work in your favor.

MLS, BLC, MIBOR Alphabet Soup

MLS, BLC, MIBOR...Realtors throw around these acronyms as if they're part of everyone's vocabulary, so let's clarify this alphabet soup.

MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service.  Many people think of this as simply the pictures and information on a listing, and that is certainly a feature of a multiple listing service; it's technically an advertisement for compensation. Realtors in a geographic area agree to show and sell other realtor's listings in exchange for compensation. 

BLC stands for Broker Listing Cooperative and is the name of the multiple listing service of MIBOR.  Oh, no, another acronym...

MIBOR is the Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors.  Realtors in the thirteen counties in central Indiana who join follow MIBOR's Code of Ethics and participate in the BLC, meaning they have access to detailed information on every home listed and sold by any other MIBOR member and agree to compensate and be compensated by the terms advertised in the BLC.

Not all realtors join MIBOR.  Often, small, independent brokerages elect not to join MIBOR to save on membership dues, the downside being they lack the BLC's essential information and compensation agreements. Most area realtors however, belong to MIBOR and its MLS, the BLC.    Alphabet soup, anyone?

Why Fewer Homes for Sale Benefits You

In the thirteen counties that comprise the MIBOR Broker's Listing Cooperative (BLC) area, there are about 15,600 homes for sale.  That sounds like a lot, doesn't it?  But consider that at this time in 2007, there were 21, 241 homes for sale!  That's a lot more competition...to drive prices downward and to make any imperfections in a house a reason for buyers to look instead at the house down the street. Today's numbers are comparable to the home inventory of 2004, and are moving in the right direction. 

And on a seasonal basis, fall is a good time to list your home due to less competition.  The potential buyers out there now tend to be more serious and more qualified.  With less homes to choose from, your home can stand out even more.

Home Staging + Professional Photography...

...equals MLS Eye Candy! These photos, all from the same home, are staged to perfection.

Notice a home staging trick of the trade--pulling the furniture away from the walls.

ADORE the apple green wall color.  No, it doesn't have to be tan, but it 

does have to be classic or perfectly on-trend and meticulously applied.

  What impressions do these photos conjure for you?  

Would they cause you to schedule a showing if you were in the market to buy?

They sure would for me.  

Refinancing your Mortgage: new HARP guidelines announced today

Changes were announced today in the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) that allow more borrowers to refinance their mortgages. In yesterday's post, we talked about unprecedented interest rates making refinancing very attractive.  For those homeowners with negative equity, loan modifications have been possible, but not without hurdles. 

Key changes to HARP include:

• reducing fees associated with refinancing to encourage homeowner to shorten the term of their mortgage
• eliminating new appraisals with the refinance
• removing the current ceiling of 125% loan to value ratio; in other words, it does not matter how "underwater" the homeowners are

HARP is designed to help those homeowners who are current in their mortgage payments and have negative equity through no fault of their own.  Thankfully, we in the greater Indy area never had the dramatic bubble and burst experienced by other areas of the country.  That doesn't mean, however, that there aren't people who could benefit from this program here.  Call me if you need a referral for a highly competent and skilled lender who can discuss the numerous qualification criteria for HARP or other refinancing programs. 

Refinancing your Mortgage

Thinking of refinancing your mortgage? One of the most important and helpful services I can offer you is a referral to a competent and skilled mortgage lender.  You may not be in the market to buy a home now (although it's an amazing time to buy with 30-year fixed mortgages averaging 4% and 15-year mortgages at an even lower average) in which case I hope you've taken this economic opportunity to refinance your current mortgage. If you haven't refinanced recently, I invite you to call me for a referral.   

Some applications:

• Many people who refinance are switching from a 30-year loan to a 15-year loan, keeping their monthly payments the same, but paying off the mortgage in less time.  
• Of course, if you simply refinance a 30-year loan at a new, lower rate, you are in control of prepayment but with more flexibility in case of emergencies. 
• If you've been faced with interrupted income due to unemployment or illness, there are even loan modification programs to change the terms of your loan. 
• If you have negative equity, or are, colloquially, underwater, there may still be opportunities to modify your loan.

Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors. Mortgage loan officers closing deals today, particularly those I've had the pleasure of working with, are able to navigate today's complex markets and challenging economy.  And by the way, your personal finances are confidential between you and the loan officer. Call me for a referral if you're looking to purchase or refinance.

Relocating to Zionsville: My Take

As a realtor, I could tell you all the logical reasons why a home buyer should relocate to Zionsville, notably that Zionsville home values are comparatively stable, and homes in great condition are selling at fair market value. So if you're thinking of relocating to Zionsville, let me tell you instead what I think is so great about living here from my perspective as a happy resident.

1. Small town feel, yet close to everything Indy has to offer... I love that I can smile and chat with people I know just about anywhere I go in Zionsville, or that I can hop on the interstate and be at the Children's Museum with the kiddos in 20 minutes.

2. The parks...walking the Rail Trail, the fun community events at Lions Park, the kids splashing and playing in summer or sledding in winter at Mulberry Fields or running around the Lincoln Park gazebo after they've finished their ice cream from DQ. They all feel like an extension of our backyard.

3.  The schools...the high quality of life we have in Zionsville is very affordable when compared to other areas of the country with similarly outstanding schools.  Although we have many excellent private schools nearby, Zionsville Community Schools are a huge value. 

4. The people...friendly neighbors and a strong sense of volunteerism in the community help Zionsville to maintain its small town feel, even with tremendous growth in the past decade.

5.  And, there's always something to do...one of my favorite spots to take restless kiddos in the winter is The Park, basically an indoor playground that will save your sanity in February.  We'll see you tomorrow at Pumpkins and Hayrides in Lions Park!

What is YOUR favorite thing about living in Zionsville? Leave a comment.

New Listing: 3635 Toronto Court--a 3 bedroom,2 bath home in Indianapolis

If you are looking for a clean, move-in ready home with a comfortable 3 bedroom, 2 bath floor plan, 3635 Toronto Court in the Crooked Creek area of Indianapolis  is for you.  New carpet, new paint, newer roof, open living areas, huge deck, shady yard...this home offers easy and comfortable living.

3635 Toronto Court Visual Tour

Call me today for more details or to schedule a showing.

Home Staging: Just Paint it Tan?

I should paint every room tan, right?  That is a question I get a lot when I sit down with listing clients to talk about home staging. Every home staging is unique. Consider this picture:

This room is far from neutral.  But it is clean, fresh, inviting, balanced and lacks personalization. 

There is an adage in the real estate business that for every hour spent staging your home, you'll net $100.  I don't know if that's an exact correlation or not, but I do know that staging is very important in a high inventory market. And if your realtor isn't giving you advice on staging or enlisting professional stagers, then you're missing a critical factor of getting the most for your sale.

So, no, not every room has to be tan...but I will let you know if it does need to be changed.  When it comes to your house, I'll be honest yet respectful about how to stage your home for sale.

Preparing Your Home for Sale

Obviously I wasn't a Boy Scout, but I sure do like the way they think.  Always Be Prepared.   Before we stage your home and that bright red Carpenter Realtors sign goes in the yard, here are some really beneficial things you can do to prepare for a successful home sale:

1. Get a pre-listing home inspection.  This can be especially helpful if you have an older home.  For a few hundred dollars, you can be forewarned about items that may scare away potential buyers.

2. Get replacement estimates.  If you cannot fund any major repairs revealed by the pre-listing inspection, obtain estimates. This will help potential buyers determine if they can afford the home.

3.  Make minor repairs.  If you're like me, it's easy to get used the quirks of your home. But you're much better off to fix that squeaky door or leaky faucet.

4. Clear the clutter.  Store it away, but remember even your boxes need to have an organized appearance if they are visible in closets, the basement or the attic.

5. Clean. Your home needs to sparkle.  Clean the baseboards and switch plates. Clean the refrigerator and oven, even if you're taking them to your new home;  in the buyer's eyes, they're a reflection of how you've maintained the home.

Of course, I've got all the referrals you'll need to get prepared, from inspectors to tradespeople to cleaning services.  I'll help you make it easy to always be prepared.

BWAHAHAHAHA....scary MLS photos

In the spirit of Halloween, let's take a look at some frightening MLS photos. After all, 90% of all buyers begin their home search perusing online images.

I see dead people.  Or alive people.  Meet the seller, everyone. Don't
worry. Her slippers won't make much noise as she spooks
around the house. She'll be watching you in silence.
 

Let's hope this is a wig.

Updated cabinetry with brushed nickel hardware,
stainless steel microwave, oh, and a black cat. ON THE COUNTER.
Buy this house and prepare food for your family where
a creature who has walked in cat litter has been padding around.