While most sales people don’t hold a degree in psychology that science winds up playing a major role in the sales process. Most highly experienced listing agents not only understand this -- they use it to Evansville sellers’ advantage.

According to a 2010 study by Avid Ratings published in the Los Angeles Times, typical home buyers have a simple hierarchy of preferences: they want it all. Even when pressed to name what they are willing to do without, the typical homebuyer’s long list of “must haves” remains pretty much untouched.

What they are not willing to compromise on are home offices, walking paths, children’s playgrounds and large kitchens. Large rooms, in fact, sell homes.

Even if your house is full of small rooms, your listing agent can help them appear larger by hiring a home “stager”. Stagers are professional dream makers. Savvy about what today’s homebuyer is looking for, stagers use their designer skills to transform homes from “Can you show us the next house on the list?” to “Stop! I want this house!”

Homebuyers also want a home that’s in turnkey condition. In fact, a study performed by the Maritz marketing research firm found that 63% of the homebuyers polled said they are willing to pay more for a home they perceive to be “move-in ready”. And it’s a properly staged home that is more likely to help buyers get that “move right in” feeling.

Listing agents who provide home staging for their clients understand that a staged home sells faster and for a higher sales price. Some studies show that spending just $550 on home staging nets the seller almost $2,000 more at the close of escrow.

Call me if you are interested to find out more about the home staging service we provide. You can reach me by phone at 812-499-9234 or email: Rolando@RolandoTrentini.com

The bedrock of the residential real estate industry is the American Dream of owning your own home. But the current market has seen a rise in another facet of the industry: the ‘strictly business’ opportunity created by the rise in Evansville and Newburgh foreclosure listings. Everyone from first time buyers to seasoned investors are newly aware that housing market conditions warrant a serious look at the unusual bargains that are opening up.

The appeal is understandable due to some commonsense consequences caused by the mortgage meltdown (and the headlines that followed). When banks come into possession offoreclosed properties they find themselves in an unenviable position. Incented to sell them as soon as they can, they aren’t free to wait until the market rises to meet historic price levels. As a result, mounting numbers of those foreclosure listings are carrying price tags that are a fraction of their original market price.

For homeowners who see a second home as a path to create a passive rental income stream, foreclosure listings comprise tempting investment vehicles. And for first time homebuyers, the information in the same foreclosure listings can mean nothing less than a foot in the door of homeownership.

In both cases, the first step to buying a bank-owned property comes with finding reliableforeclosure listings. Looking for a trustworthy source means finding one that features up-to-date and accurate information. Too many dedicated “foreclosure” websites offer endlessly duplicated, incorrect, or woefully outdated information. Relying on them can send would-be buyers on a frustrating series of time-eating wild goose chases that end up locating houses that have already been sold.

One way to test a source of foreclosure listings is to take advantage of free trial subscriptions where they are offered. It’s a money-saving way to determine whether a foreclosure source can be trusted to include attractive properties listed soon after they come on the market. The good news is that the online field is developing rapidly -- so much so that it may even be possible for you or your agent to inquire (or even begin negotiations with the bank) through the Internet.

In any case, the opportunities that foreclosure listings represent also carry special characteristics that canny buyers need to take into account. Home inspection rules are one example. Banks are under no obligation to disclose information about a property’s flaws in the same way that regular homeowners must, so it’s imperative to make a physical investigation of a foreclosure listing before proceeding further.

January’s typical Evansville homebuyer assumes that buying a pre-owned residence saves money. Period. And in fact, most often that is true. Buyers rightly expect that pre-owned houses are more affordable than comparable new homes for sale. But what about the buyer who can qualify for a slightly higher mortgage? Would it be a better idea for them to also consider new homes for sale rather than to simply fixate on the immediate cash savings that go along with buying an older property?

The fact is, there are both benefits and drawbacks that deserve looking at no matter which choice you wind up making.

One practical advantage to buying new homes for saleis that you know that you and your family will be living in a house built to conform to the latest standards in materials and construction. Evansville building codes are continually adopting advances in energy efficiency and materials sustainability. They automatically reflect the community’s experience with construction techniques: what works and what doesn’t; what lasts longest; what’s safe. With contractors and inspectors both working the insure that new homes for sale are built to code; the result is an extra dose of peace of mind when it comes to the durability you can expect in a new home.

Another advantage to buying a newly built house is the pleasure and convenience of living in a home with brand new features. No time-consuming and costly remodeling will be needed to obtain the extra pride of ownership that go with a sparkling new kitchen and bathrooms boasting the latest fixtures. And it’s often the case that newly-built homes for sale better reflect today’s lifestyle patterns. Twenty-first century floor plans apportion space in ways that agree with most people’s living preferences, so new homes for sale in today’s market are more likely to accommodate modern entertainment systems (just as they frequently leave less space for gigantic dining room tables).

In contrast, one disadvantage to purchasing some of the new homes for sale can be a tradeoff in lot size. Though not always the case, older developments sometimes reflect an earlier era which accommodated smaller populations featuring less crowded landscapes.

Of course it’s your budget that will largely determine which combination of neighborhood and new or pre-owned home that will make the best fit for you and your family. The wisdom of planning carefully before investing hard-earned money in any property goes without saying. Since you are looking forward to many years of occupancy in either a pre-existing or new home for sale, I hope you will contact me for a consultation. I know the area and can help you sort out the choices that are available right now. You can call me at 812-499-9234 or you can email me at Rolando@RolandoTrentini.com

1. Tackle Maintenance Details:
Mow the lawn, trim the borders, and edge the driveway and walks. Every line should be straight and every edge crisp. Refresh the mulch. Power wash the siding, and scrub the soffits and eaves. Wash the windows, and polish every reflective surface until it gleams.
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2. Clean the Walks and Driveway:
Clean and patch the sidewalks, steps and driveway. Clean each surface, then patch small holes and fill any cracks. If you’re feeling creative, define the edges of a sidewalk or driveway with brick.

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3. Add Trees or Planting Beds:
Mature trees in a well-landscaped yard add significant value to a home, but there may be an even better reason to dig this project. Shading a home’s windows and walls can reduce air conditioning costs by up to 50 percent, according to the American Public Power Association. Even small trees provide a little shade, and there’s no timelike the present to get them growing.

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4. Paint or Replace the Front Door:
If the front door is in good shape, remove the hardware, sand it thoroughly, and apply two coats of exterior enamel in a color that contrasts with or complements the siding. Or, replace the whole thing. In “Remodeling” magazine’s “2010-11 Cost vs. Value” report, replacing a steel entry door recouped more money upon resale than any other project – 102.1 percent of the cost.
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5. Hang Shutters:
Few weekend projects change a house faster than adding shutters. Well-placed shutters define windows and add dimension and color. When hanging wood shutters, use shims to create at least a 3/8 inch gap between the shutter and the siding. Without this air space, moisture trapped behind the shutter may damage the wood.
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6. Upgrade Exterior Lighting:
Good lighting warms the night and makes your home sparkle. Try lining awalkway with solar landscape lights, uplighting a tree or spotlighting an architectural feature. Or, swap out a recessed spot or small pendant with an impressive chandelier. Any of these projects can be accomplished safely as long as you turn off the powerand test to confirm the power is off before handling circuit wires.
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7. Renew Home Hardware:
Beauty lies in the details, especially when it comes to your home's hardware. Take a weekend to update items like the front door knocker, knob and address numbers. Try finding hardware that complements your home's architecture and colors. Choose timeless items that will maintain their patina, or at least weather in an elegant way that you like.
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8. Makeover Your Mailbox:
Make your mailbox beautiful and move beyond its utility status with a makeover. A fresh coat of paint, new flag and fresh set of numbers to provide a much needed update to an often ignored aspect of your home's curb appeal. Plant flowers at the base of the mailbox stand to provide a bloom of color that will make your home even more inviting to visit.
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You never have a chance to make a Second 1st Impression!
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Brenda Hughes

Home Staging & Re-Design Specialist, Southern IN, Northern KY

I am your Home Staging & Re-Design Professional for the Tri-State area.