Chris Snyder

How to bring out your home's 'wow' factor.

Home prices have fallen and many homeowners are mortgaged to the hilt. This makes it difficult for some sellers to justify spending a penny to get their home ready for the market.

However, the home-sale market is also very competitive in areas that are still bloated with inventory of unsold homes. When buyers have a choice, they pick the best. They want a home at a good price, in a good location, and one that they can move right into without having to do any work.

Investor buyers are snapping up foreclosures at an increased pace. These homes are usually not in good condition. And, in some cases they are selling for half of what they sold for four or five years ago.

If you're a seller who's selling in a market where there is competition from distressed-sale foreclosures or from other sellers who are offering their homes in top condition, you will be at a disadvantage if you don't fix up your home before selling. It will take longer for you to sell and you could sell for a lot less than if you had invested time and money in properly preparing your home for sale.

There is a lot you can do to get your home ready that doesn't cost much money; it just takes time and hard work. For instance, most people have too many personal possessions in their homes, particularly if they have lived there for years.

Decluttering benefits you in a couple of ways. You won't pay to move things you no longer want or need. More importantly, buyers will be better able to see what your home has to offer instead of focusing on your things.

HOUSE SELLING TIP: It's worthwhile to consider hiring a home staging decorator. Some sellers need only a consultation of one to two hours. Ask the stager what you should keep and what should be moved out before you start showing the house. Also, get recommendations for furniture and artwork arrangement. The way you live in your house is not necessarily the best way to show it off to prospective buyers.

For example, many homeowners place their sofa across from the fireplace, which can mean that a buyer is greeted by the back of the sofa when they walk into the room. It stops them in their tracks. If the sofa is moved to one side and two chairs are placed opposite the sofa, the room will appear more open and the traffic flow won't be obstructed.

Sometimes the scale of your furniture isn't right for showing your home to its best advantage. Recently, buyers who had been looking for more than a year for the right house saw one that they thought could be it. However, they were concerned that the bedrooms were too small.

They had the good sense to go home and get a tape measure. They came back to the house and measured the rooms they were concerned about. It turns out they were larger than they appeared. The house was furnished with beautiful pieces, but they were large and made some rooms appear smaller than they actually were.

Today's buyers have a lot to think about when they buy a home. Are they buying at the right price and time? Will the house work for the long term? Can they qualify for and afford the financing they need? It helps the process along if you can create an ambiance that enables a buyer to fall in love on the first visit.

THE CLOSING: You need to create the wow factor so that when buyers walk in they say, "I better act quickly. This house won't be on the market for long."
By Chris Snyder The Keyes company

This addendum addresses most all the concerns of the seller, bank, and makes clear to the buyer just what has to take place. It has several times lines in it that the Far 9 contract addendum does not. It addresses application of the short sale, Status (updates for the buyer side) back up offers, specific termination clause, and specific acknowledgements for buyer and seller that have been needed. See Forms Simplicicity and look under general addendums far/bar and you will find it. This is one the Far Bar got right in my opinion.

Looks like a Far 9 but has the same old attorney twists. Mediation is not binding so off to court you go. The escrow section respects LF475 if deposit is with a Realtor. However, read closely if escrow is held by title company or attorney. If the buyer misses the financing contingency period and does not give you written notification of approval, seller may cancel contract, buyer gets escrow back. This section begs to be read several times. Lots of time lines in this one. It has special 20 day flood notice time line for the buyer to cancel if below a minimum flood level or in a special flood zone. You will see a title examination (abstract) that buyer needs to see, if the owner has. If they don't, and you wait until closing, buyer could extend the closing up to 5 days and not close. On the positive side, it is easier to read and has a several areas that offer check off boxes. The contract has had a major overhaul and needs reread by us all. It has many proactive changes but is still not my preferred choice. As always, for the legal interpretation see an attorney. This is not a legal opinion.

Realtor, Chris Snyder PA, sells home in Southern Orchard for highest price per square foot price of any home sold this year in Forest Ridge. In addition, it was the only traditional sale in Forest Ridge to sell over the listed price this year. The house went under contract in less than 72 hours with multiple offers. His marketing and selling skills elevate him to the top neighborhood agent. If you are looking to list your home, make an appointment with Chris, experience the difference. See his website at Http://www.ChrisSnyderPA.com and see whats on the market today in Forest Ridge and what has sold.

August 8th 2010

The closure is going to last about 2 weeks. The association is replacing the brick on the road at the entry. You must use the North Entrance. Pine Island to SW 24th heading West. Take left turn on Grove Drive and you are in Forest Ridge. For the lastest home sales and what homes are on the market go to http://www.ChrisSnyderPA.com and click on Forest Ridge.