Julie Stevenson

If your home has been on the market for months (three to six) and the price was already reduced, you are probably beginning to wonder how much lower you can go. A potential buyer may come along and present a low-ball offer, which can be 10 percent or more below the list price and involves some sort of strategic negotiations. Before slamming the door on such an offer, review these helpful tips to help guide you through the process:

Don't reject the offer right away. It is important you recognize this is a negotiation game and the buyer is serious or s/he would not have put in the bid.

Analyze your own goals and needs. How much do you need from this deal in order to move to your next home? What will be your counter offer?

Conduct a comparative analysis. Check the temperature of the marketplace. What has happened in the housing market recently to get this buyer to make this type of offer? Also, take stock of the present inventory in your neighborhood and how they are priced comparatively. It is important to recognize that your home may be priced too high compared to similar houses in your area.

Negotiate! Keep the conversation alive with the buyer for as long as you can. Do not settle right away. Always maintain open communication about your limitations with your agent; he or she is there to help you get the best price possible for your home. Remember, if the offer is too low, always counter; don't walk away. Sometimes buyers simply want to test the waters.

Work together. Ensure the buyer's agent and his or her clients are aware you are willing to work with them. If you have waited this long to sell your house, what are a few extra days or weeks? Keep everyone engaged in the process until your goals are met.

Offer your final counter. Make your final offer and stick with it. Keep in mind you don't want to be so stubborn that you lose the buyer over, say $2,000.

Be patient with the process. Understand selling takes time and both parties want to meet their expectations. By taking time to work together, you can arrive at a deal that is beneficial for all involved.

Every seller wants her home to sell quickly and bring top dollar. While there are some factors you can't control, like neighborhood popularity and market fluctuations, you can help your house put on its best face for showings and open houses. If you want to sell your home, here are some tips to prepare your house and turn it into an irresistible home.

Before any physical preparations, you first need to prepare yourself emotionally. Begin to dissociate yourself, and decide to let go of your attachments to the home. From now on, this is a house you really want to sell, not your own beloved home.

It's important that potential buyers can imagine calling your house "home," too. Make it easier for them by de-personalizing the space. Remove personal photos and family heirlooms. Buyers should be allowed to connect with the space, and to imagine displaying their own photos and artifacts. You want buyers to think, "I could see myself living here."

It's no surprise that you'll want a tidy house for a showing, but what about those hidden areas of the home? Buyers need to look everywhere; they will open cupboards and peer into closets. So, make sure storage areas are organized, and that coats hang neatly in hall closets. Stack dishes and re-arrange kitchen drawers. Tidy other stored items, like books, games or CD's. Bathrooms and kitchens should be especially clean, with counters clear of miscellaneous personal items and knick-knacks. Don't forget the outside of the home. Give your house curb appeal by trimming the lawn, sweeping the front walk, and artfully arranging outdoor furniture.

Now is the time to take care of those bothersome little repairs you've been putting off for years. Buyers will notice the flaws that you've grown accustomed to. From replacing light bulbs, to cleaning scuff marks off walls, to replacing missing tiles in the bathroom, or fixing the broken screen door, take care to repair all the minor problems with the house before the open house.

While you may have long determined which aspects of your home you love, having a fresh set of eyes scrutinize its best features is a smart idea. If you want to sell your home, take the time to walk through it methodically with your real estate agent. Together you can point out which features of the home should be accentuated...and which elements should be downplayed. Does your home have a wonderful view? Draw attention to it by sprucing up window treatments and arranging furniture to draw the eye toward the windows. Is the kitchen small and cramped? Make the most of it by lighting the space well, clearing counters of debris and displaying a vase of fresh flowers.

If you want to take window coverings, built-in appliances or fixtures with you when you sell your home, remove them now. If the chandelier in the dining room once belonged to your great grandmother, take it down. If a buyer never sees it, he won't want it. Once you tell a buyer he can't have an item, he will covet it, and it could blow your deal. Pack those items and replace them, if necessary.Finally, when it comes time for the open house, try to avoid being home. Not only does it make buyers uncomfortable, but it can interfere with your real estate agent's sales process. Whether you head to the office or just out for a walk with the dog, you can rest assured that in your absence, your house will look enticing to its new owners!

THE BENEFITS OF WORKING WITH A BUYER'S AGENT


In our busy lives finding the perfect home can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. A qualified Buyer's Agent, like me, can help! A Buyer's Agent will do the following and more:

•· Locating suitable properties.

•· Suggesting and scheduling necessary inspections by experts.

•· Helping buyers determine what they can afford.

•· Assisting in securing financing.

•· Verifying the value of the property.

•· Advising clients on structuring an offer.

•· Presenting the offer to the sellers' representative.

•· Negotiating favorable contract terms for the buyer.

•· Explaining legal documents needed for closing and helping secure them.

•· Referring them to qualified vendors for home repairs and maintenance.

•· Analyzing the future salability of the property.

There has never been a better time to buy a home! The inventory is great. Interest rates are low. Prices are amazing and first-time buyers can qualify for up to an $8,000 tax credit. To see homes for sale in the Greater Lansing Area, please visit my website www. jkstevenson.com.

IT'S SPRING! As a realtor this means high season. More homes are bought and sold during the spring than any other time of year. One of my neighbors even commented the other day that she has noticed a lot of cars driving slowly through our neighborhood looking at real estate.

With over 5500 homes for sale in the Greater Lansing Market, competition is stiff. One of the keys to successfully selling your home is curb appeal. It is important for your home to look great on the outside so people will want to check out the inside.

Here are some tips to add curb appeal to your property:

•· If you have any peeling paint, fix it.

•· Make sure your yard is tidy. Keep the lawn raked, mowed and watered.

•· Pick-up the toys. Clutter on the outside of a home indicates what to expect on the inside.

•· Clean your gutters and windows.

•· Put a welcoming wreath on your front door.

•· Mulch your garden beds.

•· Plant flowers.

The first place most buyers start their home search is online. The second thing they likely do is drive by the homes that interest them the most. By keeping the outside of your home looking great, you are sure to get more home showings and ultimately, a quicker sale!

St. Patrick's Day is Tuesday and here's a wee bit of something to celebrate.... while it might not be a pot of gold, it will help you keep a bit more money in your pocket. What is it you ask? How about a tax credit for home energy efficiency!

The economic stimulus plan passed last month provides a tax credit for 30% of the cost of energy-efficient doors and windows, insulation, air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps and boilers, up to $1500. This credit is available for 2009 and 2010, but the maximum credit you can take over the two year period is $1500.

For windows, doors, and insulation, the credit is limited to the cost of the materials. However, if you buy a new air conditioner, furnace, heat pump or boiler, you can include the cost of installation when calculating your credit.

The economic stimulus package offers an expanded tax credit for more ambitious projects such as the installation of solar water heaters, geothermal heat pumps, and wind energy systems. These projects qualify for a tax credit of up to 30% of the project's cost with no caps and this tax credit is available through 2016.

For more information about eligible energy-efficient home improvement projects, go to ase.org . To view the list of Lansing Area Homes for sale, checkout my website: jkstevenson.com.