How to Have the Most Wanted Home on the Market

by HOLLY HURD

1)      Curb appeal- There’s nothing like driving up to a well landscaped, well taken care of home.  It really is the first impression a buyer has when they see your home.  Fresh potted flowers, mulched flower beds free of weeds, a clean front door and exterior will make buyers want to see your home.  The outside should be inviting them to see the inside and the inside should invite them to stay.

2)      Enhance your layout- The placement of furniture will either draw a buyer in to sit down or cause them to scratch their heads wondering how furniture will actually work in the space. When we live in our homes, we use furniture so it works best for our needs. The oversized sofa that takes up more than half the living room shouldn't be kept when you’re putting your house on the market. It’s important the furniture in your living room is open and shows off the space you have.

3)      De-clutter & Edit- buyers love a home that looks clean and presents well. You can’t do that if you have a ton of pictures or wall art on every square foot of wall space. The same goes for shelves and tops of dressers and cabinets. If it looks visually cluttered, it feels cluttered. Buyers need to feel like your space is open and welcoming.

4)      Clean- Besides the obvious cleaning that should be done, you should also be making sure all your soft surfaces are clean like carpets, bed linens and curtains. When these things are clean your whole house will smell clean. And of course, make sure those windows are sparkling, the blinds are dust free and you clean every nook and cranny.

Holly Hurd~ 

Is a REALTOR with Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel
in Northville, Michigan 48167 
#1 Firm in MICHIGAN

hollyhurd@hotmail.com

Sell / Buy a home in Northville,Michigan register today at

www.Northvillehomes4sale.net

Holly Hurd ~Living in the Northville, Michigan area for 40+ years , Holly Hurd is graduate of Northville High School, Schoolcraft College, Michigan State then raising her own family here Holly Hurd has first hand knowledge and knows the area quite well Please feel free to contact her for all your real estate needs #homerocks #YourHome

Northville Michigan Real Estate
Homes for sale in Northville Michigan Northville, Mi. 48167
#bombogenesis #realtor #realestate #reaestatemarket #realestateforsalemi#hometown #hollyhurd #home #homesforsale #historicnorthville #buy#buyingahome #buildingahome #buyrealestate #condo #coldwellbanker#northville #northvillemi #sellyourhome #sellingyourhome #smalltown #shop#cbwm #cbbelieves #moveinmichigan #greattimetobuy #greattimetosell#sold

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Blue Matter / The part of the brain that thinks about real estate

April is Fair Housing Month

Every April, REALTORS® celebrate Fair Housing Month to reaffirm their continuing commitment to fair and equitable treatment and a professional level of service for all in their search for real property.

  

Here is a quick break breakdown of what you need to know…

 

The Law

Civil Rights Act of 1866: The Civil Rights Act of 1866 prohibits all racial discrimination in the sale or rental of property.

Fair Housing Act: The Fair Housing Act declares a national policy of fair housing throughout the United States. The law makes illegal any discrimination in the sale, lease or rental of housing, or making housing otherwise unavailable, because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.

Americans with Disabilities Act: Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in places of public accommodations and commercial facilities.

Equal Credit Opportunity Act: The Equal Credit Opportunity Act makes discrimination unlawful with respect to any aspect of a credit application on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age or because all or part of the applicant’s income derives from any public assistance program.

 

2013 NAR Fair Housing Focus

The Fair Housing Focus includes advice on reporting acts of discrimination, information on multicultural real estate organization meetings, NAR diversity, smart growth and housing opportunity grants, and ideas for Fair Housing Month.

PRINT FAIR HOUSING FOCUS

Responsibilities

The home seller, the home seeker, and the real estate professional all have rights and responsibilities under the law.
For the Home Seller: As a home seller or landlord you have a responsibility and a requirement under the law not to discriminate in the sale, rental and financing of property on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. You cannot instruct the licensed broker or salesperson acting as your agent to convey for you any limitations in the sale or rental because the real estate professional is also bound by law not to discriminate. Under the law, a home seller or landlord cannot establish discriminatory terms or conditions in the purchase or rental; deny that housing is available, or advertise that the property is available only to persons of a certain race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
For the Home Seeker: You have the right to expect that housing will be available to you without discrimination or other limitations based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin
This includes the right to expect:

• Housing in your price range made available to you without discrimination
• Equal professional service
• Ehe opportunity to consider a broad range of housing choices
• No discriminatory limitations on communities or locations of housing
• No discrimination in the financing, appraising, or insuring of housing
• Reasonable accommodations in rules, practices and procedures for persons with disabilities
• Non-discriminatory terms and conditions for the sale, rental, financing, or insuring of a dwelling
• To be free from harassment or intimidation for exercising your fair housing rights.

For the Real Estate Professional: Agents in a real estate transaction are prohibited by law from discriminating on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. A request from the home seller or landlord to act in a discriminatory manner in the sale, lease or rental cannot legally be fulfilled by the real estate professional.

Holly Hurd REALTOR®

www.Northvillehomes4sale.net  

HERE IS A LIST OF "12 DO NOTS " EVERY HOME SELLER SHOULD KNOW

1) Don't overprice your home.  It will cost YOU money!  Do not go with the agent that tells you your home is worth more then the market will produce.

2) Don't be surprised if the first offer on your property is the best offer you receive.

3) Don't let your property sit on the market too long before making a significant change in price (or it will get stale).

4) Don't think all real estate agents and companies are created equal...they are NOT.  Find an agent/company with a great track record and proven home marketing system.

5) Don't list with a real estate agent just because they charge the least or the most.  Look for the best VALUE.  Consider the company's track record with sellers and buyers.

6) Don't look just at the price the buyer offers.  Analyze the total package including buyer qualifications, contingencies, closing dates, etc..

7) Don't forget buyers will shop around looking for the best buy.  You are in competition with other sellers for your buyer's attention.

8) Don't forget that if real estate agents don't see your property as a good value, they will take their buyers elsewhere.

9) Don't believe those who tell you newspaper ads sell homes.  You need a COMPREHENSIVE marketing plan tailored to your property and your needs.

10) Don't make it difficult for agents and buyers to see your home.  Buyers want to look at their convenience.

11) Don't overlook the value of MERCHANDISING your home...make it look its VERY BEST!

12) Don't forget that you control the pricing of your home, how it looks and the overall marketing plan.  But it is the BUYERS who control value.  If buyers won't pay your price, the house remains yours.

Holly Hurd

hollyhurd@hotmail.com

www.Northvillehomes4sale.net 

Top 10 Worst Home-Showing Offenses

Here are the 10 most common responses from buyer’s agents when asked about the worst mistakes they see when presenting for-sale homes to clients:

1. Leftover home owners

By far, one of the top offenses cited by buyer’s agents was home owners still lingering around when agents arrived with clients to preview the home. Awkward encounters ranged from buyers finding sellers taking a shower, asleep in the bed, to even the “stalker sellers” who liked to follow buyers and the agent all over the home to see what they thought.

With the exception of the “stalker seller,” many of the home owners who were still at home blamed their listing agent for not giving them enough advance notice about the appointment prior.

2. Pets and their messes

 The not-so-friendly dog and kitty encounters as a top offense. Even pets left in a crate can pose a distraction since they might make noise the entire time others are in the house. Plus, if they seem mean, the buyer might not even step in the room. My suggestion is if you have a pet take out of the property for all showings.

Vicki Robinson, ABR, CRS, broker with Fonville Morisey Realty in Raleigh, N.C., says she recently was given showing instructions from a listing agent who told her the family’s “friendly dog” would be at home. But when Robinson unlocked the front door with her client for the showing, a pit bull was staring down at them from the top of the staircase, growling. “We closed the door and left!” she says.

3. Bad smells

A displeasing smell can really turn buyers off. Common offenses include cooking smells lingering around the home, such as garlic, fried bacon, or fish. Also, watch for cigarette smoke and animal smells.

4. Critters running wild

Wild animals and pests roaming around is a surefire way to send buyers running. I remember one home had worms crawling on the floor and bats and raccoons lounging in the attic. 

5. Odd home makeovers

Do-it-yourself disasters were also prevalent, like doors opening the wrong way or unprofessional paint jobs. Also, rooms not being used for their intended purposes can confuse buyers, such as an office being used as a bedroom even though it has no closet.

6. Dirt and clutter

There were a number of offenses cited when it came to cleanliness: Dirty laundry piles, unflushed toilets, dishes on the counter or in the sink, unmade beds, clothes scattered about, soiled carpets, dirty air conditioner filters, and overflowing trash cans.

“One of the worst things I have seen is piles and piles of clothes in every room,” It was like an obstacle trying to walk around the mess. It is very important to keep it clean.

7. Personal information left in plain sight

Sellers should be careful not to leave in plain sight important documents that may pique buyers’ curiosity. Some agents say they’ve seen personal information like bank and credit card statements—even mortgage payoff notices—left on the kitchen counter.

“Buyers are nosey,”  sometimes  “I’ve even seen the contract for the sellers’ next purchase sitting on the kitchen countertop or ‘final notice’ bills.”

8. Too dark

Dark or dimly lit houses aren’t showing the home in the best light.

“Particularly [homes lit with] CFL bulbs," By the time [the bulbs] light up, the buyer is gone. Energy efficient bulbs need time to warm up before they are at their brightest, so staging professionals usually recommend agents arrive early to a showing to turn on any light fixtures with CFL bulbs at least 10 minutes prior.

9. Keys missing from lockboxes

All too often, agents arrive at a listing appointment with their client only to find there’s no key to get in. “I actually had a [seller’s] agent who wanted me to open the door for my clients by going through the dog run as a large dog barked like crazy.” 

10. Distracting photos

Watch the photos displayed on the walls too as I am recalling showing a family a home that had life-sized, nude photos hanging, which left my clients racing for the door covering their eyes.

I also recall showing a home to a client, who was staring at a painting in the master bedroom of a woman in lingerie. “Isn’t that the owner?” the client asked. “She was also the real estate agent!” 

www.Northvillehomes4sale.net

I Love Listings

* The Last 10 Properties Sold in Your Area ( And Their Selling Prices)
If you are selling a residential property in or around the Northville,Mi. 48167, 48168 area
 Request this report from me Holly Hurd Realtor at Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel Northville office. I can collect this valuable information for you so to help gage current market trends ~ My Real Estate expertise and many effective marketing programs will give you the exposure and edge you need to sell your property quickly and for top dollar. My marketing is second to none and has been tested and studied time and time again for maximum results with over 40+ years area experience I know the market well ~

I consider S.E. Michigan an excellent place to reside and would love to share with you my enthusiasm for the many neighborhoods that encompass it. I pride myself on providing unparalleled service and look forward to developing a long~term relationship with you. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss how I can best assist you with your real estate needs

warmest regards,

                                Holly Hurd

www.Northvillehomes4sale.net 

www.northvillemichigan.co

www.northvillemichigan.info

#1 in Market Share again in YTD for Northville/Novi‏

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel ~ #1 in Market Share again in YTD for Northville/Novi

Attention Northville and Northville Township Home Sellers

Are you exempt for paying the state transfer tax?

Are you planning on selling your Northville or Northville Township MI home? Did you know that a home seller is exempt from the state real estate transfer tax, if all three of the following conditions are met at the time of sale:

• The seller occupies the property as a principal residence and claims a principal residence exemption (PRE).
• The property’s “state equalized value” (SEV) for the calender year of sale is equal to or less than its SEV for the calender year in which the seller purchased the property.
• The sale price is equal to or less than the property’s “true cash value” (TCV) for the calender year of sale (the TCV is twice the amount of the SEV).

Want to find out if you qualify for this tax exemption? Give Holly Hurd a call today at 734-718-5736 or email her at hollyhurd@hotmail.com to find out what your home is worth in today’s market. From there we can help you determine if you qualify and what you need to do to get your home sold in the quickest amount of time for the most amount of money. And be sure to visit my  Northville and Northville Township Real Estate website where you can search for Wayne and Oakland County homes, learn more about local neighborhoods, and browse our great seller services!