Calendar of Events
Sept 7 - Labor Day
Sept 18-20 - Polly Crockett
Festival
Sept 19 - Times Ford Marina's
Poker Run
Sept 22 - 1st Day of Fall
10 TIPS FOR SELLING IN THE FALL
With fall marking its entrance,
kids back in school, and the holidays just
around the corner, home sales tend to slow down
during this time of year. If you're selling, it
means you need to take extra measures to make
your house stand out above the others in your
neighborhood. So if you're preparing to sell
your house this fall, think about these tips:
*Curb Appeal - Fall can
make or break you when it comes to curb appeal
and the all-important "first impression." Leaves
turning shades of crimson and gold can add extra
appeal to the total look of your home's
exterior. On the other hand, leaves strewn about
your front yard can decrease your home's visual
appeal during that first impression.
*Celebrating the Season -
Add a fall wreath to the front door. Have a few
huge pumpkins and fall display in your front
area to welcome visitors (would-be buyers).
*Scents of the Season - If
you're a smoker or have pets, make sure the nose
doesn't know. Eliminate all such offensive
odors. If you're holding an open house, or know
you'll have a lot of potential buyers looking on
a particular day, bake an apple pie. Nothing is
more inviting than the scent of apples and
cinnamon wafting through the air.
*Letting the Light In - A
dark house is a big turn off. Open up the
blinds, let the light in and turn on the lights
during the day. And turn on all those accent
lights and lamps.
*The Fireplace - The
hearth is still an important feature to most
buyers, especially as days grow colder. Make
sure yours is clean. Place a log in the
fireplace. Or, consider placing an attractive
candelabra or candle-holder that holds numerous
candles in the fireplace for a decorator's
touch.
*Hiring a Home Inspector -
Once a buyer makes an offer, they will hire
someone to conduct an in-depth inspection of the
house. Some sellers like to do this before they
put their house on the market so there are no
surprises down the road. If anything comes up
during the seller's inspection, the seller can
get it taken care of before putting the house on
the market.
*Tidying Up - If you have
a lot of furniture or other "stuff," put some of
it in storage. Put away all those knickknacks
and paper piles.
*Allowances - If you have
carpet, wood floors or cabinets that have seen
better days, consider offering an allowance
right off the bat. You'll want to discuss this
with your real estate professional. There are
pros and cons - you don't get to have that "wow"
first impression. If you put in those floors or
cabinets yourself before you sell. But you might
be shore on time and don't want to run into the
holidays - plus buyers may like the idea of
picking out their own flooring.
*Your Asking Price - Don't
insist on setting the price too high, especially
if you're on a timeline. A house priced
appropriately will be taken more seriously and
will ultimately sell more quickly than one
that's overpriced.
*Talk to the Professionals -
Now's also a good time to interview real
estate professionals. Ask about their
experience, find out how well they know the area
you're eyeing, and talk to references. Once you
have someone lined up you can follow his or her
additional recommendations and begin the final
phases of preparation before your house goes on
the market.
