TAKE A TARGETED APPROACH TO FINDING THE RIGHT HOME FOR YOU....If you are buying a home, one of the first things I like to do before taking you on home tours is to discuss with you and try to determine the type of house you want and need. Style, size and number of rooms is important. However, just as important is the type of community you want to live in. Knowing what your requirements are will help narrow your home search and save time.
To expedite the house-hunting process, start by making a list of the dream home factors the "wish list" as it's called that are most important to you and your family. Consider style, location, proximity to work and schools, yard size, near all major highways, and price.
Whether you have children or not, buying a home in a community with good schools is important. It not only adds value to your property, but also is an attractive feature when and if you decide to sell. There are plenty of resources available to get information about schools within the communities you are considering. Various Internet sites offer school reports and profiles. They provide statistical data such as graduation rates, college-bound percentages, and standardized test scores. You can also learn about special programs the schools offer. In addition to these reports, many schools have their own Web sites you can peruse. And of course you can always talk to people in the area or take a tour of the school.
Once you’ve narrowed your search to two or three communities that fit your price range and lifestyle, make comparisons of price and sales activity.I can then narrow down the search for you based on different neighborhoods as to their salability at the time and what has sold in that community. There are many factors involved in selecting the right community for you and your family. I do think that a targeted approach to house hunting is less time consuming, less expensive and more efficient .
SELLING YOUR HOME FAST IN A DOWN MARKET....
Selling your home fast in a down market takes guts. It usually means you'll sell it for less than you hoped you'd get. However, that's the way it is going west in the real estate market today. To sell your house quickly realistically let it go for 10% to 15% lower than other listings in your neighborhood have sold for recently.
If you need to sell your house fast they take the emotion out of it. Price it at the lowest price point that you are willing to accept immediately, don't wait to see what's going to happen and then reduce. This is detrimental truly.....pick a reasonably/low price and list it there! People don't want to see a hous that hangs on for months with small price reductions. It gets old fast, very fast.
CURB APPEAL IS EVERYTHING....
This is the best way to get buyers inside your house to look at it. You might even be competing with short sales and foreclosure in the area but you will get noticed. That's what you want, attention, this is how you'll get. Don't get caught up with big fixes you won't have the time. Remember you want to sell it fast. Do the quick fixes that make sens and yield the most attention.
FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS ARE YOUR FRIENDS....
Statistics show that the first-timers bought over half of the homes on the market this year. The Federal tax credit was a solid incentive. That coupled with low mortgage rates it created a solid reason to buy for those who qualified. By the way the first time home buyers are an average age of 30. To boost your traffic be active through the social media networks like Facebook Twitter and the like. These buyers are looking online.
SPEEDY DEAL IS YOUR SECRET WEAPON.....
Yet another way to get the house sold quickly is to add incentives for you buyer. Be creative...pay the closing cost or at least part of it. Include the appliances, a fresh paint job, condo fees (if applicable) etc...anything that makes and seals the deal.
"Experience isn't expensive....it's Priceless!"
For All Your Real Estate Needs Contact
"EXPERIENCE ISN'T EXPENSIVE....IT'S PRICELESS!" I love this phrase and it's so true I think. At least for the most part it's true. When I'm looking for a doctor I always look at his/her experience, how long they been practicing, where they went to medical school, what is their specialty, are they Board Certified and so on.
When I'm looking for "legal advise" I generally feel that those attorneys with the most experience have an edge by virtue of there experience. Years of practical work in court and dealing with the many different leagal cases must give them the knowledge one is seeking for advice.
Do those sellers and buyers looking into the real estate market look for Realtors who have years of experience? Do Certifications like Buyer Agency, Sellers Agent, GRI, Licensed in more than one state give the Realtor an edge? I wonder....I've been in the business over two decades and can only remember one time when I was asked what any of these designations mean and if they asked do they care? I've never had anyone ask me how long I've been a Realtor either..Would they move on to another agent if they weren't satisfied with the answer? Has anyone asked you what all those designations mean?....I wonder?
I think who they chose to work with is based on a connection and the service they give.
Curious what your thoughts on the subject. Please leave a comment below.
Thank you,
Patricia Aulson
www.patricia4realestate.com Portsmouth NH Real Estate Hampton NH Real Estate
MEMORIES OF MY CHILDHOOD HOME /August 2009
Historic Essex Street- Salem, Massachusetts
Where the infamous "Witchcraft Trials of 1692" took place
only a few blocks away
I grew up in Salem Massachusetts near “Gallows Hill where the witches were hung. As a teenager in High School I worked summers at “ The Witch House” and “The House of Seven Gables.” The hidden stair case always fascinated me. Families would hide in the staircase when the house was raided . Being a tour guide was fun as well as interesting. I met many interesting people from everywhere around the world. One million visitors come from all over the world each year to take in the Historic sights. Salem is a pedestrian friendly city where residents and visitors can walk around downtown to stores, shops, resturants and local attractions. These Historic places are located only a few blocks from the home I grew up in pictured aboved . Click on the links below and go back in time with me.
http://www.salemweb.com/guide/witches.shtml
http://www.oldhouseweb.com/architecture-and-design/the-house-of-the-seven-gables.shtml
My childhood was happy and carefree. As I write this blog I realize how lucky I was to grow up in Salem, otherwise known as the "Witch City." I'm told I hide my broomstick well. Life was a whole lot simpler then. I migrated back and forth between my best friends house and mine. Little supervision was needed. You could play in your yard with friends and not worry like moms do today.
Fond memories come to mind when I reflect on time spent in this big, beautiful historic colonial home. A grand home- three stories high, with a widow’s walk on the top of the roof. In case you don’t know what a widow’s walk is, it’s a railed roof-top platform typically build on coastal homes originally designed to observe vessels at sea. It’s where the wives and widows of sailors who have gone to sea go and look longingly out at the ocean hoping their spouses would return after months of being at sea....My sister and I used to take a towel and lay out hoping to get a sun tan. The next door neighbor would always call my mom and tell her we were on the roof. Ha...thank God we didn't fall off. It was a long way down.
This stately old home had multiple fireplaces, magnificent hard wood floors, and front and back staircases. The Beacon Hill gardens as they were called were lovingly attended to by my father who enjoyed the time spent nurturing the flowers we all enjoyed. I remember the flagpole that had beautiful purple and while morning glories winding around it. What a sight to see. The above picture is how it looks today, not when I lived there. The front was all beautiful gardens then. Sad to see the present owners have done away with the flower garden using the space to park cars. The front yard is deep as the house is long.This home was perfect for relaxing or entertaining in the life style associated with living in Historic Salem.
In those days neighbors were friendly and helpful. They cared about you in good times and bad. They were “there if you needed them, and when you didn’t. Times sure have changed. Nowadays people often don’t know their neighbors or their names, let along what they do for a living. No one seems to have time anymore to get to know and help their neighbors. When was the last time a neighbor knocked on your door to borrow a cup of sugar?
My family consisted of an older sister and younger brother. I was the middle child. My parents were loving and kind. In those days parents, especially the father figure didn’t display outwardly any soft caring ways with their children like they do today. We never talked back or even thought about questioning anything my folks said... We did what we were told and that was that!
It’s been fun doing this post for you today stirring up fond memories of years gone by. A bit of nostalgia has set in actually. Another time and place…a different place, gone but not forgotten.
I hope you enjoyed my tour.
Sincerely,
Patricia
"Experience isn't expensive....it's Priceless"
There are those agents that believe in "updating their voice mail daily.
I curious though as to how many agents do this. Changing the voice mail, with the date and time and message seems somewhat repetitive and not needed to me. Most of us have a voice message that answers any calls and we check for these messages through the day.
Do you think that changing the voice message daily allows you to be more in control or not?
My updated daily message today might go like this.....
.." Good morning, this is voice mail for Patricia Aulson @ Prudential Verani. It Thursday, July 23rd...At this time I am unable to answer your call but please, do leave me your name, contact number and nature of your call. I'll return your call promptly and welcome the opportunity to speak with you today. Thanks for calling ... hop you are having a great day!"
Do you think that changing the voice message daily allows you to be more in control or not? Also do you think that the person calling you feels that this daily message will be returned sooner?
Please leave a comment with your thoughts on this when you have time.
Thank you, hope your having a nice day!.
Patricia www.patricia4realestate.com Portsmouth NH Real Estate seacoast NH & ME Hampton NH Real Estate
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Specializing in Real Estate services for buyers & sellers in seacoast New Hampshire homes- & ME - Greater PORTSMOUTH, NH homes,Dover, Exeter, Hampton, Stratham, Brentwood, Seabrook, Hampton Falls, Ken
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