Homes & Life Magazine 1st Quarter 2023

My Commitment to You

Whether you’re selling your first home, or you’re an experienced seller, my goal is to make the process as simple and effective as possible. I’ve negotiated contracts for millions of dollars’ worth of business and have been recognized for providing the utmost in quality service to my customers. My clients count on my knowledge and background to provide them with insight and direction in their real estate plans. If there’s anything I can do for you, please give me a call!

Sally Agent REALTOR® Results Realty 941-723-2400

4 Steps to Help You CRUSH Your Goals This Year

1. Think About the Results You’re After Is it important enough to truly commit time and energy to? If not, you may want to reconsider this goal.

2. Use the S.M.A.R.T. Goal Technique Make sure your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time bound.

3. Create a Schedule Write down your goals and the tasks you need to complete along the way. Include deadlines for each task all the way through to your scheduled goal completion date.

4. Assess Your Progress Along the Way Schedule evaluation dates throughout your goal’s timeline to measure your progress. If you’re behind, adjust your task dates to get back on track. The closer you get to your goal the more motivated you will become.

Don’t Let a Transitional Market Impact Your Home Sale

There’s nothing more upsetting than your home sitting on the market while others around you are selling. The following are four tips to make sure your home sells during this transitional market.

Quality Marketing

If your home is on the market and it’s not selling, ask your agent to show you what he or she is doing to market it. Depending on the type of home, at the very least, there should be evidence of heavy online marketing.

List Price

The price of a home is the driving factor that determines how quickly – or even IF – the home sells. While it’s tempting to price the home above market value in your attempt to get the most money you can, it’s dangerous to do so.

A home’s market value is no secret – any real estate agent can run a quick CMA to determine if a home is overpriced. These homes don’t get shown. They sit. They languish and, eventually the seller must drop the price just to get some nibbles.

Cleanliness Matters

Nobody wants to look at a dirty house let alone pay good money to live in it. Study after study has shown that homebuyers want “turn-key” homes – so they can move in without having to clean up after the former owner.

If cleaning isn’t your thing, hire a company to come in and get your soon-to-be-for-sale home in shape. If you don’t, you risk having your home sit while your neighbor’s house gets all the attention. Check your MLS listing to ensure that the photos are clear and compelling.

The Market is the Issue

Although the current market is still leaning toward sellers, it is cooling. Homeowners are dropping their listing prices and budget-oriented homebuyers are leaving the market because of high interest rates.

A changing market doesn’t prevent homes from selling. It may just take a bit longer to sell than it would have a few months ago.

Is Selling to an iBuyer Worth it?

In a nutshell, iBuyers are technology companies that offer to pay cash for a home. When you sell to an iBuyer you’ll sell quickly, but you most likely will hand over a substantial chunk of your home’s equity as well.

PROFITS

iBuyer

iBuyers will not view your home before making the initial offer, nor are they necessarily familiar with the area. Instead, they will use an algorithm to determine your home’s market value. It’s a notoriously error-prone process.

That means the iBuyers’ algorithm may suggest they offer you $270,000 on a home with a current market value of $300,000. Is a quick sale worth leaving $30,000 or more on the table?

The results of a recent MarketWatch.com investigation of iBuyers transactions yielded some eye-openers.

“iBuyers’ offers net their customers, on average, 11% less than owners who choose to sell their homes on the open market, when fees and other costs are considered, translating to tens of thousands of dollars lost,” according to MarketWatch.com’s Andrea Riquier.

Then, there are additional costs. Once under contract with Opendoor, for instance,

they send in not one but a team of home inspectors, according to Carolyn Schwaar with Realtor Magazine.

” A team of five Opendoor contractors—one for electrical, one for plumbing, one for foundations, and so on—went through the house with a magnifying glass,” she claims.

“Then, they asked for fixes such as new bathtubs, toilets (when there wasn’t a thing wrong with the home’s current toilets), and more, to the tune of $16,000 on a $300,000 home,” said Schwaar.

This may sound self-serving, but I am convinced that a professional listing agent will net you far more money, with less hassle, than iBuyers can.

WHITE CHICKEN CHILI

INSTRUCTIONS:

Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add olive oil and onion and sauté until soft. Add chicken broth, white beans, corn, and tomatoes. Add chili powder, cumin, salt, and ranch packet. Stir. Add 2 chicken breasts. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes. Remove chicken, shred, and return to pot. Add cream cheese, lime juice, and stir. Continue simmering for 5 minutes or until cream cheese is incorporated. Add more lime juice and salt to taste. Simmer until chili reaches desired thickness and serve.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Cut beef into four equal sizes. Season with salt and pepper. Heat 1/2 the oil in skillet. Brown beef, then set aside. Add garlic, onion, and peppers to skillet. Sauté till soft. Add 1/2 cup broth, simmer scraping bottom of skillet. Move everything to slow cooker. In slow cooker, add beans, tomato, tomato paste, beef broth, spices, and beef. Cook on low 8 hours. Remove beef and shred. Mix corn flour and 1/4 cup beef stock and pour into slow cooker. Add beef, then slow cook for 20 minutes to thicken. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve with garnishes including sour cream, guacamole, grated cheese, cilantro, corn chips, cornbread, or over rice.

Navigating a BUYER’S MARKET vs. a SELLER’S MARKET

Understanding the nature of the market when you get ready to sell or buy is key to ensuring you approach the transaction with the best strategy for you. People sell homes whether it’s a buyer’s market or a seller’s market but learning the key differences can help you tailor your approach. Let’s break down the differences.

1. WHAT IS A BUYER’S MARKET?

Many people think that a buyer’s market is simply a market that’s better for buyers. But there are additional factors to consider such as homes tend to sit on the market longer, sell for less, and sellers compete for a smaller pool of buyers.

2. WHAT IS A SELLER’S MARKET?

A seller’s market can also be more nuanced than simply a market that’s great for sellers. It can include a larger pool of buyers, a smaller pool of homes available, and buyers’ migration.

3. HOW TO LEVERAGE THE DIFFERENCES TO YOUR ADVANTAGE

Experts might claim that it’s heading toward a buyer’s market nationwide, but that generalization may not apply to your local market.

Sometimes markets are not strongly a buyer’s or seller’s market—you could have a small pool of buyers and a small supply of available properties or a large pool of buyers and an abundant supply.

Focusing on the local market can help you identify and establish the best approach. It will also help you determine who your buyers are. Perhaps the pool of buyers is smaller, but they’re ready to purchase and have specific goals. I am a real estate agent well-versed in both markets and can create a targeted campaign that will establish the response you need to thrive regardless.

That Influence Home Price 3 CRITICAL FACTORS

Pricing your home is one of the most angst-filled parts of the selling process. Yes, we will help you determine a solid list price for your home, but that figure is passed on to you as a suggestion. The final list price will be your choice.

Depending on where the housing market stands at any given time, prices may be in flux, making it even more challenging for you to pinpoint that just-right price. Of course, this is something we do in our course of business every day. But, again, the final list price is up to you.

Keep in mind that when I find a buyer for your home his or her lender’s appraiser will determine your home’s market value by analyzing several factors. Some of these include location, condition, age, size, quality of construction, design, and the current housing market.

While some of these factors are out of your control, there are three key price influencers homeowners most certainly can control; home staging/presentation, marketing, and your real estate agent.

Since so much about the homebuying process is based on emotion, the way the

home is presented to potential buyers is a powerful price influencer. Creating the right ambience helps a home sell faster and for the most amount of money the market will bear. It is, therefore, the foundation of a successful home sale.

Your agent is the best person to consult about your home’s presentation. All the effort, time and money that goes into creating the home’s presentation is wasted, however, if the home isn’t marketed appropriately. And marketing a home for sale is the listing agent’s primary job. This includes determining your home’s “wow factor,” which in turn helps us understand who the likely buyer will be.

Marketing is an art and getting the news out about a home requires a healthy marketing budget—something many real estate agents lack. From hiring professional photographers to employing a videographer to creating 3-D video tours of your home, there are many ways to bring eyes to your listing.

I’m happy to discuss what your expectations are when it comes to listing and marketing your home. Feel free to reach out to me at any time.

1. PRICING MASTERY

From the start, getting the price right is one of the most important decisions related to getting your home sold for top dollar. I am an expert at determining the best fair market value and pricing strategies to accomplish this goal.

2. NEGOTIATION SKILLS

Experience is critical when negotiating best offers. My clients tell me that they have more peace of mind knowing that I am watching out for their best interests.

3. ONGOING COMMUNICATION

Communication is a vital component in the sales process. Make sure the real estate agent you choose takes the time to establish a time and method for keeping you in the loop every step of the way! As a result, you are always informed, and everyone can avoid unwanted surprises.

4. AREA EXPERTISE

I am a seasoned veteran, with enthusiasm, knowledge, time-tested strategies, and a network of industry-wide professionals at my fingertips, ensuring I have all your needs covered throughout the entire process.

Please reach out if I may be of assistance, or if you know of anyone who might need help with buying or selling a home.