Chris Lee

Believe it or not, the Title is true. There are a lot of people selling their homes leaving the closing table very happy. Just as important as finding the right agent to sell your home, an agent needs to find the right seller. It is a committed effort from both parties, one cannot be successful without the other buying in and helping. Here is what I'm getting at...

My career counselor in College always told us not to fail the interview in the first 5 seconds. No matter how smart you are, the first impression stuck out in people's minds when it came to decision time. The first impression is typically the first 5 to 10 seconds after you meet. A nice suit, polished shoes, business like hair cut, firm hand-shake, eye contact, and a pleasant relaxed smile with a professional looking resume, believe it or not, puts you in contention every time. A company is going to make sure that it has "good bones" to work with and mold you in to the type of employee they are looking for. Guess what, the same theory can be applied to home-selling, and, you as a seller.

Buyers see a lot of homes these days...I have seen a lot of homes these days too. Every house I walk in to I leave with something (no, I'm not stealing anything tangible) that I pass along to my seller's of what not to do. Beautiful houses sit on the market for too long for reasons that are easy fixes. Buyers love to see homes that they feel sellers have taken care of, "good bones" because they are going to make changes. They want a home that looks and feels like it has been taken care of, and they form an impression the first 10 seconds that they are in your house. This is a competitive market, be a competitor, this is not a time to be passive and hope for the best. Being passive could cost you to sit on the market, and sitting could cost you thousands.

Here is what to do...Look around as if you are a buyer. Ask your agent to show you Active homes in your neighborhood/area that are comparable to yours. Look at your competition and align yourself in an advantage someway, somehow. Your Realtor will not mind doing this...if they do, find another agent. If buyers are looking at your home, they are seeing the others in your area too. Paint, clean, dust, arrange/remove furniture, fix holes, replace anything broken, do a pre-inspection if you need one....these are just a few of the obvious. A Realtor should be able to guide you in the right direction.

This is a perfect time to stand out and be rewarded monetarily. Make a plan of how you are going to keep your home in selling condition, get your family involved...Living in a home that is on the market should be challenging if you are doing the right things. If it's easy, you aren't doing enough and it could reflect at the closing table....

Considering a move to Dallas? Already in Dallas and considering a move to another area? There are plenty of options to choose from if you are taking a blank canvas approach. Some of you are ahead of the game and know exactly where you want to move. If this does not apply to you, allow me to introduce you to North Dallas...

What is North Dallas? For the sake of this Blog, I am referring to the area North of I-635, South of George Bush Turnpike (HW 190), West of I-75, and East of Josey Ln. Some of what I will be referring to can also include parts of Lake Highland (RISD).

Entry price for this area starts at around 210K and goes all the way up to millions. For those of you that are handy or that are looking for investment property that needs a little love, you can typically find something in the area at a lower entry price.

This area is typically either Richardson ISD or Plano ISD, at the South Western quadrant of our little square it is Dallas ISD. Cities include Dallas, Addison, East Carrollton and Richardson.
So why this area? Why do I love this area so much?

Lets Start With North Dallas and Addison..

North Dallas is booming and booming and booming. Why? Great schools, easy access to Tollway and I-75 and George Bush, and the airport. North Dallas and Addison have a unique combination of towering office buildings, upscale shopping, beautifully landscaped residential communities, award-winning parks, 22 hotels and over 170 restaurants, all within a 5 minute drive from anywhere in town. Addison is located 13 miles north of downtown Dallas, 16 miles northeast of DFW airport, 11 miles north of Love Field airport and about a mile from The Dallas Galleria.

Addison - 80's to New Construction, A great variety of Single Family, Patio Homes and Duplexes, Townhomes and Condominiums. Tons and Tons of shopping and restaurants, nightlife, family friendly festivals...everything that you want to do, Addison can more than likely provide.
North Dallas- 60's to 90's, Great assortment of 1 story large homes on generous lots and wonderful established mature tree filled communities. Most desirable locations are North of Beltline, South of George Bush, East of Tollway and West of Coit. In that quadrant, a price range from 200K to over 2 million can be found. This area boasts exemplary schools and is New Family or First/Move-Up Home Buyer friendly
Richardson- 50's to 70's construction; the area of discussion is North of Spring Valley, South of George Bush Turnpike, West of I-75 and East of Coit. This area is filled with charm and presents the best opportunity for the entry-level buyer. This area is referred to as Richardson Heights for the most part and is loaded with charm. Richardson Heights has been one of the hottest areas in North Dallas for a number of years. The value for your dollars ranks among the best. The community is surrounded by wonderful schools and families of all ages. Logistically for the money, this area can't be beat. Easy access to George Bush, I-75 and Tollway. The is ample shopping and sits within 5 minutes of Super Target and all of your major shopping outlets.

Take some time, sit down and explore through these areas on MLS. I love questions as they provide a learning opportunity for all of us...

Chris Lee
Keller Williams
My Website
North Dallas
972-788-0000
chrislee@kw.com