“Curb appeal” is the good impression or feeling made when looking at a home from the curb to the front door. It is taking the best exterior feature of the house or yard and enhancing it to the fullest potential. Believe it or not, it can be one of the most important factors to home buyers and many will choose not to view the inside of a home if the outside does not look up to par.
Here’s how to maximize your curb appeal:
Keep landscaping neatly trimmed and maintained. Keep your grass green and replace dead spots with new sod or seed. Don’t neglect flowers, plants and trees. Trim dead stems or branches and if they aren’t looking good, replace them! You’d be surprised how far some inexpensive annuals, like petunias or impatiens, will go.
Add low voltage landscape lighting. It’s an easy and instant upgrade that will really make a dramatic effect at night.
Re-paint the exterior - including trim, shutters, front entry door and garage door. If needed, replace the hardware with new door handles, knobs, etc.
Replace your mailbox. The last thing a home buyer wants to see after leaving a beautiful home and yard, is a beaten-down old mailbox.
Park your vehicles in the garage. This will showcase your home from the street and to show that the driveway has ample room for any potential needs.
Remember, no matter what your budget is, always keep it simple, neutral and appealing to the masses. The way you live and the way you sell are two totally different worlds so you want to set the stage to invite buyers into your home with welcoming curb appeal.
Joshua “Dr.” Suess is owner of The Focused On Your Family Team with Re/Max of Valencia, 661-702-4640; www.NoHassleNoRisk.com
Bottom line: The average sales price is down approximately 17 percent from last year. Average Days on Market of Sold Homes at this time, 2007: 108 Current average days on market: 78 Bottom line: Homes that have sold this year have been on the market 30 days less, or are selling 28 percent faster, this year. Total Closed Sales at this time, 2007: 1,966 Year to date, 2008: 1,543 Bottom line: There have been 423 fewer sales this year, or 22 percent fewer sales.
Average Sale Price at this time, 2007: $551,100
Current average sale price: $458,081
Homeowners are hungry for an advantage - something that can give their home an edge over the competition. According to Joshua “Dr.” Suess of Remax of Valencia, such advantages fall into one of two categories: price and condition. But for a great deal of homeowners, prices are already low enough… that leaves option two. “Compare it to buying a car,” says Suess. “If you’re looking at two cars and they both cost $20,000 and one has all the bell and whistles, which one would you buy?” Translation? Before you put your home on the market, make a few simple upgrades. Paint the walls. Plant some petunias. Clear some counter space. In real estate circles, such changes are called staging. In the same way you might consider detailing your car before you slap a for-sale sign on it, staging your home can generate the additional eye appeal that can lead to results. Suess says potential home sellers can attempt to stage their own homes or use a professional. Either way, he says, the investment is well worth it. The key is not to get too cute. Home shoppers are looking for potential, not perfection as you define it. Those merlot-colored walls? Cover them with something neutral. The family photos? Save them for your next house. “You need to cut clutter,” Suess says. “If a buyer is looking at 10 homes and doesn’t remember your floor plan because he remembers the family photos, that’s bad.” And eliminate any indigenous scents; just because you love the smell of fried garlic in your home, don’t expect potential buyers to agree. “Staging is all about presenting your home in the best light,” Suess says. “You’re not living in your home. You’re selling it.”
“You’re not living in your home. YOU’RE SELLING IT.”
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We Chose Joshua & Annie! When we decided to move during one of the worst housing slumps this country has seen in the last 25 years, we felt we probably had a chance somewhere between slim and none of selling our home. That may have been true if we decided to list our home with someone else other than Joshua Suess and Annie Mai Thai. Not only did we sell our home in less than 60 days, but we also received full asking price in a slow market. Due to their diligence in understanding the housing market, Joshua and Annie were able to create an effective marketing strategy that connected us with serious buyers. The marketing strategy was so effective that we had offers on our home within days of listing and all of this during the Christmas Season. Joshua and Annie provided a full circle of service from tips on how to prepare our home for showing to referring moving services. Yes….be prepared to move because Joshua and Annie will sell your home. If you are not serious about moving than Joshua and Annie are not for you. From the moment they introduce themselves to the moment you close, Joshua and Annie are committed to selling your home. Most importantly Joshua and Annie never lose sight that they work for you and that your concerns are their concerns. We were so pleased with Joshua and Annie’s customer service that we hired them to help us find our new home. Selling and Buying at the same time can be extremely stressful, but Joshua and Annie have been down that road before and the concurrent process went off without a hitch. We are grateful for the professionalism and courtesy Joshua and Annie embody. We know we would never be in our dream house if it were not for the superior skill and service of Joshua Suess and Annie Mai Thai. -Doug & Lisa Jandoli - Valencia Joshua and Annie are an amazing real estate team; we cannot imagine anyone better in any market! They have the most professional group that responds quickly, with knowledge and unsurpassed expertise. We certainly felt that we were their only clients and they truly had our best interest at heart. Throughout the process we found them to be advisors, coaches, and ultimately, lifelong friends that we still keep in touch with. -Burt and Gabriela Anderson Being a first time home buyer is nothing short of stressful. There is so much to consider and worry about. This being said, I cannot imagine doing business with anyone other than Joshua and Annie. Throughout our entire house buying process, they were professional, caring, and extremely knowledgeable. Joshua and Annie made an otherwise overwhelming situation as smooth and comfortable as possible. We never once doubted our choice in realtors. We felt like their number one priority during and even after our purchase of a house. Joshua and Annie kept our needs and desires in mind entirely and we would absolutely recommend them to anyone in need of real estate assistance! -Kelly & Henry Garay Knowing that some day my house would be on the market, I began observing which residences in my development were selling in a timely manner. With consistency, it was Joshua and Annie’s listings that received the “Sold” placard that brings relief to every home seller. After meeting and getting to know them, I understood why: from their on the dot appointment arrival time, professionalism, knowledge, and marketing skills it became apparent they are no ordinary real estate team. Every aspect of the listing, negotiations, and closing were handled with expertise and confidence. This listing occurred during a changing market, and I received suggestions to accommodate the dynamic conditions that resulted in a successful sale. My house sold while all others on the market in the immediate vicinity continued without buyers. On top of their great service, Joshua and Annie are good people and I developed a trust in them that, I believe, is rare in today’s world. -David Guleserian We were overwhelmed with Joshua and Annie’s professionalism from our first meeting. Their presentation was extremely impressive, and we knew right away we had found the best in the business! They showed compassion and concern for us, and were extremely honest, which was greatly appreciated. They were very knowledgeable, which made us feel so comfortable. We will definitely refer our friends and family to Joshua and Annie! We hope everyone can have the same wonderful experience we did. Thank you very much! -Michelle & Kevin Waters RE: 1. Sale of Montevista Circle, Valencia House 2. Sale of Gazette Ave, Winnetka House 3. Purchase of Young Wolf Drive, Simi Valley House Dear Annie and Joshua, impressed with your professionalism, enthusiasm, and knowledge. In fact, we had another real estate agent we were considering in meeting, but we were so impressed with both of you, that we did not feel the need to meet with other agents. The Montevista house was sold in just a week and at full price, which is an amazing achievement considering the real estate market had slowed considerably. Houses listed by other agents, just sat on the market. The same could be said about the Winnetka house. Although the Winnetka house took a little longer to sell, other houses in the neighborhood are still on the market today, which is an awesome achievement, considering the surplus of homes on the market and the rise of interest rates. We truly believe the Winnetka house sold as quickly as it did due to your efforts. Throughout the entire process, we always felt like we were the only clients you were serving. You were readily available, and we especially liked the fact that our correspondences, be it email or voicemail, were returned promptly. We also appreciated your presence during the Simi Valley house orientation/walkthrough. Having another set of eyes to look out for our interest was especially helpful. Overall, we truly had a very satisfying experience. Maggie and I both had some problems in the past with real estate agents. This time, however, everything went smoothly, largely because of your efforts. We would not hesitate to refer others looking to sell or purchase a home your way. We have no doubt you would treat them as well as you treated us. And lastly, we have made two new friends, and that is the ultimate compliment we can give. You guys are AWESOME! -Jimmy & Maggie Chong Joshua and Annie made selling our home a very pleasant experience. They were both very professional but at the same time made us feel very comfortable. Throughout the transaction they were always prompt at answering our calls, questions or concerns. They kept us informed about everything that was going on. They truly cared about protecting our interests. Whenever I spoke to Annie, it was like speaking to a real friend. Both Joshua and Annie live up to their motto, “Focused On Your Family.” If I ever decide to sell my new home, I will not hesitate to call them again! -Alicia Sanchez Selling your home can be a lot of things: exciting, stressful, anxious, hopeful, hopeless (sometimes!) and frustrating. But with Joshua and Annie, it was simply rewarding. With unending support and enthusiasm, Annie and Joshua kept my wife and I relaxed, upbeat, and extremely optimistic about selling our home. And, as promised, IT SOLD! From the very beginning to the handling over of the keys, Joshua and Annie were honest, upfront, and totally dedicated to our satisfaction with their service. We felt like their only clients! That is a tribute to them as people and professionals. If asked, I would give Annie and Joshua my highest recommendation to anyone wanting simply THE BEST real estate service you can find. Sincerely, -Lenny and Carri Jackson Ever since we decided to sell our home, we were thinking of calling different real estate agents. First we called Joshua and Annie. They were number one on our list because we were analyzing their performances in the real estate world. It was excellent! In the very first appointment itself, they discussed all of their impressive marketing strategies. In those discussions, they were very passionate and into their business. That is what a seller wants. So we ended up hiring them without calling other agents. We knew selling a house was tiring and stressful so we decided not to buy another house right away but after a couple of days that our home was on the market, we started thinking that selling a house is not that stressful as we had thought. That’s because we go hired the best agents in the area. They were with us for every small problem. So we decided to buy another house in another city. They sold our house in only 5 days and for more than the list price! They also helped us to find another house of our dream. We were so much surprised by their willingness to handle all troubles as their own. They never made us feel like they were our agents, and we were their clients. They were like friends to us. Joshua and Annie were so prompt in responding to all our phone calls. They were sincere in their work and always professional. During the entire process, Annie was always making sure I was okay because I was pregnant. We were so glad that we chose Joshua and Annie as our representatives to sell our home and find another home. We started recommending them to our friends. Our friends also think that Joshua and Annie are very smart real estate agents. And for anyone who reads this, you will not regret it if you choose Joshua and Annie as your agents. -Dilip and Sandhia Dear Joshua & Annie; Where shall we begin? My husband and I felt the need to sit down and write you both a note thanking you ever so much for the amazing service which you provide! We both feel a need to let you know, as well as any perspective client how much you are valued. Your service is undeniably the best of its kind and class. It all began when we first started talking about a year ago. Having been real estate investors with property all over the country your unique marketing got our attention. Then we watched as several people in our area went through realtor after realtor with incredible promises and disappointing results! As we went through the year speaking with you and calling with questions regarding our own home and surrounding areas you had the answers and information to back up every statement you made. This was so impressive. Seeing this made the decision for us to go forward with your help and guidance to the real challenge to sell our own home, we (being investors for 5 years) had some trouble trusting and seeing the important factors in our own judgment so we handed it over to you. Boy were we pleased. We sold our home with a January 3rd listing date and a 15 day escrow AT A TOP OF THE MARKET LIST PRICE! This set a new market high in the area!Also, this was at a tradititionaly very slow time of year. This is almost completely unheard of! It was a complex sale and you handled it with ease and virtually nothing from our side of effort. Your service was so far above what you advertised, it took my husband and I three months to completely comprehend how wonderful and smooth the transition you both created for us! How do we thank you? The time and expertise that you put into your work is beyond what you advertise and beyond expectation. Especially, because we have dealt with so very many realtors in the past. Well no more! You are our trusted and valued realtors and friends! We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the service you provided to our family. In fact you also have overextended yourselves for anyone including my mother that we have referred to you. A letter does not put into words what trust can mean in such an emotional time as moving a family, or helping build a nest egg! Your integrity and perseverance is unmatched. And I wish we could make a bill board with your achievements so everyone would see you are the team that makes the winning more profitable than any we have ever used!!!!!!! So with that said, please pass along our names for referral for the rest of your real estate perspective clients. You cannot and will not ever be more happy than a service provide through the team of Joshua Suess and Annie Mai Thai! Thank you! Respectfully, -David and Lesley Turner and our whole family. Everyone knows buying and selling a home is a difficult process. What makes this process easier is having people who are willing to go out of their way to help you. Joshua "Dr." Suess & Annie Mai Thai did just that with my husband and I. Their professionalism is impeccable as well as their dedication to their clients. We have never met two Realtors who provide so much attention to their clients. Whenever there is a meeting they are punctual and very attentive to your needs. We felt so comfortable with them in our meetings together and whenever we had any questions they were there to help. Joshua and Annie treat you like a friend instead of a client which makes the home buying and selling process much easier to handle. My husband and I would recommend anyone to Joshua and Annie for all of their real estate needs because they are the best in the business! Thank you guys so much! Annie Mai Thai and Joshua “Dr.” Suess provided unparalleled service as they helped us navigate our way to a new home. Despite us putting our home for sale in a suddenly challenging market, Annie and Joshua helped us sell it for above asking price in a short period of time. To find our new home, they listened and showed us exactly the house that we were looking for. During both transactions, Annie and Joshua were consummate professionals, providing superb marketing and regular updates at every stage. They were tireless in offering suggestions on ways to more effectively present our house for sale and in negotiating the best deal possible for us during our new purchase and the sale of our old house. Lastly, they were able to recommend highly competent individuals for the appraisal, home inspection, and mortgage financing, which made the entire process smooth and efficient. -Amy & David Madeo It was an absolute pleasure to sell our home and purchase our new one with Joshua and Annie. They made the complicated process a breeze. They both worked tirelessly to find what we were looking for and didn’t stop there- they really helped us through escrow and were always available and willing to help. We would use Joshua and Annie again in a heartbeat and have already begun recommending them to our friends. Their honesty, sincerity, and integrity are unmatched and it is with our highest recommendation that we will refer our friends and family! -The Will Family Selling a house is definitely one of the most stressful endeavors. Therefore, we knew we had to find people that were truly professional and knowledgeable in their field. It took a few interviews, but when we met with Annie Mai Thai and Joshua Suess, they literally blew the roof off our house. No pun intended. We greatly appreciated the fact that they were prepared and prompt, which is how they remained throughout the course of the process. They strived to make it as convenient and painless as humanly possible. We would recommend this dynamic duo to anyone considering buying or selling their home. Interview a few agents and you’ll see the huge difference. Their service is incomparable. You can’t go wrong with these two! -Thomas & Tina Su "...thank you for your help, advice and guidance on both of my transactions. I believe, ultimately, destiny always plays itself out. So, aside from closing both of my deals, you did something more remarkable- you made a massive outfit like Re/Max appear caring, interested, vulnerable, attentive, analytical, deliberate, couteous, enthusiastic, and thoughtful. And even MORE remarkable, you made someone like me, thinking I had no means or ability to move upwards, believe I could get a better house and I could sell my house for more than I thought (no...knew) it was worth. You both truly did a great job and I thank you. -Shaylee Dunn Paramount Pictures The purpose of this letter is to recognize the remarkable dedication of two very professional, compassionate REALTORS, Annie Mai Thai and Joshua Suess. Joshua and Annie were very commited in their approach to representing my wife and I as Sellers and completed every intricate detail from listing to closing esrow. Both Annie and Joshua do their job with exuberance. It is very apparent that they simply enjoy their profession and do so with pride and integrity. Annie and Joshua always maintained a professional, friendly, positive attitude as they handled every aspect of the entire sale process. We were very fortunate to sell our home in less than a week. That was the easy part. The difficult part was working through the many demands of the Buyer. Joshua and Annie never wavered. Their countless hours of work (day and night) was above and beyond what anyone would expect from a REALTOR. Because of their tireless efforts, escrow closed on time and without a snag. In our minds, Joshua and Annie have raised the bar of our normal expectaion of how a REALTOR should represent their client. I hope you recognize Annie and Joshua for their unique talents and consider both valuable assets to Re/Max. In the future we would not hesitate to ask for their assistance in handling the purchase or sale of any piece of real estate. Our thanks to Annie and Joshua for everything! I seldom write letters of appreciation. My signature is my sincerity. -CHARLES R. DRUM We chose Annie & Joshua because we really appreciated their regular presence in our neighborhood. They took the time to walk the neighborhood and meet the people in it. Joshua & Annie sold our home in only 6 days and at more than the listing price! We also had no hassles before, during, or after the sale! They went further in helping us by interviewing and recommending real estate agents in our new town! We sold our house in Los Angeles and bought a house in Oregon with a simultaneous close of escrow in less than two months from beginning to end! Annie Mai Thai & Joshua "Dr." Suess were with us all the way! -Drs. James and Hannah Dean From the moment I called Annie & Joshua I was very impressed. The two of them are so professional, but also sincere and compassionate. Selling a home is very stressful, but the two of them made it such a smooth transaction. I feel that the constant communication and contact that they provided gave me such confidence that I had selected the BEST!! They completely took care of every single detail, and beyond for the transactions involved in selling our property. From the smallest aspect to the most complicated situation, they covered every single one of them! I can’t tell you how much I appreciated their level of service – it far exceeded any expectation I had. I would recommend them to every single person I meet. Annie and Joshua are such positive people; their “Can – Do” attitude is what makes them so different from the rest! I truly feel that if for some God forsaken reason the real estate business was not in their future any longer; they could start a new company that involves inspiring people and giving people a new attitude, and I would work with them in a New York minute!! Thanks again to both of you for all of your knowledge, hard work and dedication!! Sincerely, -Pati "...you two made such a lasting impression on my family that they BRAG to all of their co-workers and friends about how amazing you are. You totally exceeded our expectations and truly were concerned about our piece of mind during the process of selling our home. We are so thankful for the opportunity to have you both sell our home for us and look forward to having our friends share the same experience." -Alex S.
We strongly recommend working with Annie and Joshua for any real estate service.
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