FSBO Jane

Some of you, those located in the south or the far west (anywhere but here, it seems sometimes!) may not await spring’s coming with the same anticipation and eagerness I do. However, let me tell you where I’m coming from:

I live in the Midwest, where the winters are bleak and dreary. The past few weeks, we’ve been hit hard with snow and winds and storms and ice.

This is a very dull time of year for us: picture gray skies, snow piles and dirty cars. The holidays are over, and we’re all just biding our time until green grass and warm air arrives.  Also, take note: this can be a very ugly time for a homeowner. The sun may not shine much, flowers are still hiding below the earth and the grass may be brown and yucky looking.

However, the next few months mark the prime season for putting a property for sale in this area. It’s February tomorrow.. just a few weeks to March and full-on spring. Now, even in the midst of the chill and the dreariness, is the time to prepare.

Here are a few tips on how to make the outside of your home look a little more appealing during these drabby months.

1) ANALYZE YOUR CURB APPEAL

The first step is to go out to the curb and look back at your house.  Scan the whole front area of your yard and search for places that could use a little color like on the front porch, near the garage and around the mailbox.  Make a list of the places where your eye is immediately drawn, like the front door.           

2) BRING ON THE COLOR

If you live in a climate where the weather doesn’t dip drastically low, head to a florist or a home improvement store and pick out some large potted plants.  Remember to think colorfully and choose attractive flowers in bright colors like yellow or gold. Marigolds and daisies are a good choice.  Place them in prominent positions on your front stoop, porch or near the garage door.

If you live in a colder climate where the threat of a winter snowstorm lingers until April, why don’t you consider purchasing a large artificial plant to place on your front porch or near the garage?  Or hit the outlet or discount stores and look for an interesting, and fairly large, decoration. Might I suggest a four-foot wire snowman, a brightly colored chair or an old-fashioned sled to prop against the house?           

3) BE CREATIVE IN DESIGN

If you have a flag pole with a light, proudly display the American flag.  For a wall mount purchase a brightly colored flag to display daily. There are many varieties available including fun seasonal and holiday flags. If your mailbox is near the street, take a look at the many mailbox and magnetic covers available. These also feature seasonal and holiday themes and can be fun to change, adding a bit of color to the front of the home.

4) THINK ABOUT FIRST IMPRESSIONS

The front door is probably the most obvious place to decorate and draw a potential buyer’s eye. Don’t worry. I’m not going to suggest painting the door in the dead of winter. However, I am going to suggest you decorate the front door with some type of attractive wreath or door hanger. 

WREATHS: Wreaths can be made from an assortment of materials from nuts in a shell to tied strips of material to flowers.  If you are creative, take a few minutes and make a wreath that represents you; just make sure it is eye-catching.  Not exactly crafty? Then head to a store that sells colorful wreaths.

DOOR HANGERS: If you feel like you just removed your Christmas wreath and aren’t ready to hang another, check your attic and see if you have an old door hanger.  One that welcomes others to your home is nice, but there are so many to choose from. They also can be made from a variety of different materials and can greet you in a number of ways.  Just think fun, creative and eye-catching.

DOORMATS: Another addition to the front door can be a colorful doormat.  Although it won’t be seen from the street, a cheerful and lively doormat can’t hurt.

So even though spring’s little buds aren’t popping out their heads just yet (at least around here), you can still have an appealing and inviting home that could draw in a potential buyer.

(Image taken from Sxc.com.)

I found this article at Free Money Finance to be very helpful: 8 Reasons Your House is Unsellable.

He’s citing a recent piece from MSNBC, and I thought he brought up somet good points. Among some of the highlighted down-points are things like: no air-conditioning or a basement laundry room. What I really like, though, is his #1 reason: The house isn’t priced correctly.

Take a look!

Check out this article posted on BizzLo a couple months ago: “Buying New Construction”.

Interesting article! But my question is, if you’re already doing most of the work, why use a realtor at all? With a little research and effort, everything involved in a home purchase, including negotiating the deal, is totally doable without the help of a realtor. And it will save you thousands of dollars that you would’ve had to pay them for commission!

I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had much time to think up creative posts.

For now, here are some quality links that I’ve been enjoying for some time:

1) Addicted to Decor: Great ideas for decorating and staging, and there’s a new reader contest to help Kristi make some design decisions.

2) RealBlogging: A group real estate blog from agents and professionals.

3) Realestaging: Inspiring “Before & After” photos from real staging experieinces.

4) Buy Owner Blog: Helpful, informative articles on everything from kitchen improvements to selling tips.

From Jim Remley at Real Blogging:

“‘We’re seeing more and more clients requesting that green homes be built for them,’ says Robert Wieboldt, executive vice president of the Long Island Builders Institute. Currently, 35 out of 200 builders belonging to the trade group are constructing green homes. That number was less than 12 a year ago, he notes.”

I wrote about the coming trend of green construction recently at the Bigger Pockets blog. It’s a hot topic lately, in that many are talking about, thinking about, considering it. I even caught an HGTV or TLC show about “green homes” a month or two ago.

“…[S]ome prospective buyers - who could qualify for a mortgage - use the idea that they are ‘working’ on their credit or saving up for a down payment as an excuse to procrastinate on actually buying the stinkin’ house!

This ’strategy’ makes no sense, because even in a slow market, home prices rise much faster than you can raise your credit score or pay off a significant amount of debt. In the one to two years it takes to significantly improve your credit scores, home prices will rise so much that you either (a) can afford a much smaller or less nice home than you could have originally, or (b) can’t afford to buy anything anymore at all.”

This quote is taken from Tara-Nicholle Nelson’s article, “Savvy Woman: Stop Procrastinating, Buy Now!” at HGTV’s Frontdoor. Nelson raises an interesting question: is it always better to buy now?

Many nervous home buyers today think they should wait until the market bottoms out, even if they won’t be able to recognize it when it happens. It makes sense, I guess, that they’re scared: what with all of the media’s hype and hullabaloo about the down market, bad loans, bankruptcies, and foreclosures. I understand why that’s frightening.

But I also understand Nelson’s argument: waiting, if just for the sake of waiting, may not be the smartest move either. It’s possible you’re never in as good of a place to buy as you are right now.

What do you think?

Can you imagine what you’d do with an extra thousand dollars?

What about five thousand?

Ten?

Thirty?

My guess is: you don’t have to think too hard before the ideas start flowing. If you’re anything like me, the idea of extra money sends you on a daydreaming trip through historical streets of Europe or deserted islands in the Caribbean. Just say the word and I’m divvying up the funds into allocated purposes like the kids’ college fund or that new computer we’re all eyeing. But then again, I think there’s a beach chair with my name on it…

That’s, essentially, why I’m so passionate about selling homes “by owner.” I’m completely committed to the principles I write about here at FSBO Jane: I know you are capable of selling your own home or investment property. And, because of the large amount of money involved, I know this is a powerful concept that can change lives.

Saving upwards of $10K makes a huge difference to most Americans.

Think of it: $10K* that you could keep or you could lose. The money is there for you, if you choose to take it. Or you can choose to hire a real estate agent, knowing he or she (and the brokerage house) will automatically get a chunk of your hard-earned equity. You can give them the $10K, let them reap the reward for a few months of brochures, open houses, flyers…

I believe there are quality real estate agents who work hard to sell a home. But, hear me: the agent isn’t the reason someone buys a home. The home is! You already have the secret weapon, so to speak, of selling. Make your home look its finest, and put some work into your sale. You won’t regret it.

(*The example 10K would be 6%–an agent’s commision–on just under a $167K home. If your home is worth more than that, the commission only rises.)

Time for a recap of information here at FSBO Jane. If you’ve been visiting for any length of time now, you recognize the thesis of the site: you can sell your own home.

WHY?
You don’t need to be a realtor.
You don’t need to pay heavy commissions.
You are fully qualified.

HOW?
Use Buy Owner.
Be Proactive: Hold an Open House.
Be Prepared: Declutter!.
Be Aggressive: Think about Incentives.
Think outside the Box!

I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for crown molding. Give me a house with hardwood floors, crown molding, and some curb appeal, and I’m in!

I’ve yet to try my own do-it-yourself molding, but I’d like to. TLC provides a step-by-step instructional guide here; take a look, and see if you’re not inspired.

Don’t underestimate the importance of bathrooms to a potential buyer. Bathrooms are necessities, conveniences, and potential retreats: their beauty (or lack thereof) will be noticed.

When you’re pressed for time, either chronically or in a specific instance before a showing, force yourself to make this clean-up possible.

1. De-grime those walls!
Tools: A spray bottle with one part bleach and one part water.
Plan of Attack: Spray the walls, and say goodbye to mold!

2. Scour the shower!
Tools: A bucket with one part muriatic acid about 10 parts water; steel wool.
Plan of Attack: Take the glass shower door out, and clean it with the mixture and scrub it with steel wool.

3. Kill Clutter!
Tools: A pair of hands and quick follow-through.
Plan of Attack: Neatly put away anything and everything that you possibly can. Leave out only a few select decorative items to spruce up or add color to the room.