Kathy Torline, Colorado Springs Real Estate Blog 719-287-1049

Colorado Springs Real Estate Tips -- Why didn't my home sell.

For a Free Market Analysis on your Colorado Springs home, email Kathy Torline at KTorline@msn.com

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In Realtor "lingo", homes that do not sell during the listing period are known as "expired"

In the Colorado Springs housing market, there are any number of factors which can be responsible for a home's failure to sell. And every one of those problems can be corrected one way or another. The first one I am going to address is Price. Essentially any house will sell if it is priced correctly. There is a perfect price for every home.

Listing your home at the right price is the most important decision in today's real estate market. Essentially most of today's buyers want a "deal"; and it's currently a price war to get people in the door. If the buyers don't perceive that a home is priced correctly, you won't get any showings. No showings, mean no offers, which means the house won't sell. It's a simple equation.

Strategy: Have a through Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) done by a Colorado Springs Realtor to ensure your home is priced right. The analysis will take into consideration many factors, including the sales prices of comparable homes that recently sold in your neighborhood within the last 3 to 6 months. The CMA should also include the listing prices of similar homes currently on the market; as these homes are your competition on the market. It may also include other Expired Listings, as these are homes that the market has rejected for one reason or another.

The analysis will include comparing the features and qualities of your home with those of other comparable homes. There are many different ways Realtors do these computations, but all of them add and subtract from the baseline price according to the differences between the properties and your home. As an example, If your house has a 2 car garage and the other properties have a 3-car garage, adjustments will be made. If your house has 3 bathrooms and the other houses only have 2; adjustments will be made. If other properties have air conditioning and yours don't, adjustments will be made.

Typically adjustments can be computed to include square footage (main floor, upper floor, basement, and finished basement), bathrooms, air conditioning, garages, fireplaces and age of the property. There are many other adjustments that can be made, and every Realtor has their own way they compute the adjustments.

Pricing is typically the number one reason that all homes, including Colorado Springs homes, don't sell and expire.

This article was originally posted at: Why didn’t my home sell?

Kathy Torline, Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent, An Expert You Can Trust 719-2887-1049 KTorline@msn.com

Selling Real Estate in the Colorado Springs area, including Monument, Fountain, Larkspur, Pueblo, Castle Rock, Manitou Springs, Woodland Park, Palmer Lake

www.ColoradoSpringsVintageHomes.com, www.KathyTorline.com

Make each and every showing count

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I think it's important for every Colorado Springs Realtor who lists houses for sale to occasionally spend some time as a Buyer's Agent and to see a property from the eyes of a potential buyer.

Since I've been showing houses to potential buyers the last couple of days, it's made me thing of think of some important things for home sellers to remember:

• Don't forget the importance of smells. Both pleasant and unpleasant. A musty moldy smell in your basement can make a buyer not want your home. Same thing with animal smells. Many potential buyers are very sensitive to smells and an unpleasant smell can make them want to leave quickly. And the flip side is also true, a pleasant inviting smell can make buyers feel more welcome in your home.
• Be careful using too much air freshener, scented candles, and incense. Smells are very subjective, what one person likes is very different from person to person. But how can you go wrong with the smell of fresh baked cookies or fresh bread that has just came out of the oven?

• Curb appeal is everything. Buyers can fall in love with a house before they even get out of the car. A manicured lawn, well-kept exterior starts to set the expectations for the inside of the house An inviting porch with flowers and some comfy chairs makes a buyer feel welcome. Tiredness is important. Buyers will automatically think that a well kept exterior means a well-kept interior. There are many times I've pulled up in front of a house and the buyer will make a comment to me that they don't like how the house looks and they aren't even sure if they want to see the inside.

• Set the mood on the inside. Turn the lights on in bedrooms and closets, don't leave it dark inside. Most everyone likes light coming in the windows; and buyers don't like dark houses.
• If possible, turn on some nice soft music.
• Open doors to rooms and closets, make each room feel inviting and welcoming.

• Point out unique features of the home. If the house has unique feature that aren't obvious, make sure they are pointed out. A small placard on a wall can do the trick and help point out a security system, built in ceiling speakers, hidden cabinets, extra storage. Also, make sure a feature sheet is included inside the house, in a conspicuous easy to see place. If the house is on acreage, include a layout of the lot. If it's a newer house, you could also leave out a small copy of the house plans. The more visuals the better. If there have been additions made to the house or if it's a newer house, leave out copies of the building plans.

Many Realtors also include a home book in the house, that can include all types of info about the neighborhood, the school; and the demographics of the city. If the house is extremely energy efficient, make up a summary of the recent utility bills.

Remember, make each and every showing count.

Kathy Torline, Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent, An Expert You Can Trust 719-2887-1049 KTorline@msn.com

Selling Real Estate in the Colorado Springs area, including Monument, Fountain, Larkspur, Pueblo, Castle Rock, Manitou Springs, Woodland Park, Palmer Lake

www.ColoradoSpringsVintageHomes.com, www.KathyTorline.com

Homes in Fairfax are in the Briargate Area in Colorado Springs

Search for Homes in Briargate

Zip Code 80920

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• Wolf Ranch in Briargate Area, Colorado Springs Housing Market Report, 2011

Single Family Homes in Fairfax were primarily built in the 1980's and early 1990's. The majority of the houses are 2-stories 3-4 baths, with 2 car garages.

The Fairfax housing market continues to be a SELLERS Market, as there is currently a 3.5 month of supply of homes on the market. A 6 month supply of houses on the market is considered a “NEUTRAL MARKET”.

Here's a quick summary of the 2011 Real Estate Market for Fairfax

· Pricing has decreased by 10% in 2011 vs. 2010.

· Number of homes sold has decreased by 46% in 2011 vs. 2010.

· Days on Market has decreased by 2% in 2011 vs. 2010.

· Price per FINISHED square feet has decreased by 15% in 2011 vs. 2010.

The area is located in the Briargate Area, East of Powers Blvd., North of Woodmen Road, West of Austin Bluffs, South of Research Parkway.

The school District is District 20; and the majority of students go to Liberty High School. The neighborhood is close to St. Francis Medical Center.

This Colorado Springs Real Estate report contains information on Single Family homes in Briargate in Fairfax

This information is taken from the Pikes Peak Realtor Services Corp and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Kathy Torline, Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent, An Expert You Can Trust 719-2887-1049 KTorline@msn.com

Selling Real Estate in the Colorado Springs area, including Monument, Fountain, Larkspur, Pueblo, Castle Rock, Manitou Springs, Woodland Park, Palmer Lake

www.ColoradoSpringsVintageHomes.com, www.KathyTorline.com

Homes in Wolf Ranch are in the Briargate Area in Colorado Springs

Search for Homes in Briargate

Zip Code 80920

Related Articles:

• PineCreek Homes near the Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs Housing Market Report, 2011
• Colorado Springs Home Values, square footage price varies
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Single Family Homes in Wolf Ranch were primarily built from 2004 to 2011. The majority of the houses are 2-stories and ranches, 3-4 baths, with 2-3 car garages.

The Wolf ranch housing market continues to be a BUYERS Market, as there is currently a 7 month of supply of homes on the market. A 6 month supply of houses on the market is considered a “NEUTRAL MARKET”.

Here's a quick summary of the 2011 Real Estate Market for Wolf Ranch

· Pricing has decreased by 1% in 2011 vs. 2010.

· Number of homes sold has increased by 2% in 2011 vs. 2010.

· Days on Market has increased by 18% in 2011 vs. 2010.

· Price per FINISHED square feet has increased by 8% in 2011 vs. 2010.

The area is located in the Briargate Area, East of Powers Research Parkway, North and South

The school District is District 20; and the majority of students go to Pine Creek High School. The neighborhood is close to St. Francis Medical Center.

This Colorado Springs Real Estate report contains information on Single Family homes in Briargate in Wolf Ranch

This information is taken from the Pikes Peak Realtor Services Corp and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Kathy Torline, Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent, An Expert You Can Trust 719-2887-1049 KTorline@msn.com

Selling Real Estate in the Colorado Springs area, including Monument, Fountain, Larkspur, Pueblo, Castle Rock, Manitou Springs, Woodland Park, Palmer Lake

www.ColoradoSpringsVintageHomes.com, www.KathyTorline.com

Homes in Corderra are in the Briargate Area in Colorado Springs

Search for Homes in Briargate

Zip Code 80924

Related Articles:

• PineCreek Homes near the Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs Housing Market Report, 2011
• Colorado Springs Home Values, square footage price varies

Single Family Homes in Codera were primarily built from 2006 to 2011. The majority of the houses are 2-stories and ranches, 3-4 baths, with 2-3 car garages.

The Cordera housing market continues to be a BUYERS Market, as there is currently a 6 month of supply of homes on the market. A 6 month supply of houses on the market is considered a “NEUTRAL MARKET”.

Here's a quick summary of the 2011 Real Estate Market for Cordera

· Pricing has decreased by 3.7% from 2011 to 2010.

· Number of homes sold has increased by 14% from 2011 to 2010.

· Days on Market has increased by 12% from 2011 to 2010.

· Price per FINISHED square feet has increased by 8% from 2011 to 2010.

The Corderra neighborhood is located in the Briargate Area. From Briargate and Powers Blvd., go East of this Intersection, South of Untion Blvd. here are several parks in the area, including Happy Meadows Park, Castlewood park. The School District is District 20; and the majority of students go to Pinecreek High School. The neighborhood is close to Memorial Hospital North and the Powers Shopping Corridor.

This Colorado Springs Real Estate report contains information on Single Family homes in Briargate in Cordera This information is taken from the Pikes Peak Realtor Services Corp and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Kathy Torline, Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent, An Expert You Can Trust 719-2887-1049 KTorline@msn.com

Selling Real Estate in the Colorado Springs area, including Monument, Fountain, Larkspur, Pueblo, Castle Rock, Manitou Springs, Woodland Park, Palmer Lake

www.ColoradoSpringsVintageHomes.com, www.KathyTorline.com