Tiffany & Tonya - Sharkey/ Peek Group

Landscaping counts

When you're selling your house, you obviously want it to stand out. A reasonably easy and relatively inexpensive way to accomplish this may be to invest a little work in the landscaping and the yard.

We're not talking about a major horticultural overhaul, although studies show that such work does add value to the home. We're talking about simply adding some color and making the outside of the house much more attractive and memorable. Strategically placed plants and flowers can really enhance your property's appearance. Also, if it's not overdone, a well-maintained yard and garden appear to require less maintenance than an unkempt or overgrown one.

A visit to your local nursery will be of great help. There are lots of affordable options, and spending just a few dollars can really increase the visibility of your home. A small crop of annuals is an affordable way to add instant color, which naturally attract the eye. The staff at local nurseries is usually well-schooled in local soils and conditions and should be able to guide you in your purchase.

Here's something to remember-you can plant the flowers or plants in the ground, but if you do, it's assumed that they're going to convey to the buyer. If you use planters or pots, they can go with you to your new place.

Keep in mind that sometimes less is more. Simply pruning bushes and cutting back overgrown trees can make a huge difference. If you've got some old shrubs, it may benefit you to remove them.

Something about curb appeal that is often overlooked is that it's not always about attracting attention-rather, sometimes it's about diverting eyes from a less-desirable feature, like a chain link fence, or the area where you store your trash can. Shrubbery or climbing plants provide an easy way to minimize something unsightly that may otherwise cause buyers to hesitate.

As a seller, you may have difficulty seeing your home through a buyer's eyes. When you list your home, ask your Texas REALTORS TIFFANY SHARKEY AND TONYA PEEK 214-356-4472 to evaluate your property's curb appeal. Tiffany and Tonya will have suggestions and advice to make your home more marketable.

Any time is a good time

"Now's not the best time ... can we set something up for later?"-these are words that a buyer and his agent do not want to hear when they're out looking for a property.

As a home seller, you retain the right to require appointments and to show the house on your schedule. It's a good idea, though, to either always be ready or not make such restrictions on the home's accessibility. If your home is not readily available to show, you're decreasing the number of potential buyers that see it, and the chances of that home being sold diminish.

To avoid surprise visits, some sellers don't allow a yard sign or a lockbox. Again, this is within their rights, but the easier the home can be shown, the better the chance for it to sell quickly.

If you have special circumstances that call for some advanced notice, like a disabled individual or an infant in the home, scheduling all showings may be a preferred option for you. Let your listing agent know ... conditions like "By Appointment Only" can be specified in the MLS and will be respected.

Everyone likes privacy and a degree of control. Just know that the easier it is to show your home the more likely you are to find a buyer.CONTACT TIFFANY SHARKEY AND TONYA PEEK 972-977-2254 FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE RELATED QUESTIONS.

Disappear

When your house is on the market, it's important to be flexible with your showing times. Part of that flexibility is having the capacity to disappear when an agent brings potential buyers to look at your house-it's just better if you can leave the house while prospective buyers browse.

You want the buyers to feel comfortable in the house. No matter how accommodating you are, most people will feel like they're intruding on your privacy if you are present when they are trying to evaluate your home and compare it to the others they've seen. Because of this, they're less likely to linger, less likely to look around as thoroughly, and less receptive toward viewing your home overall.

After they're done, they may also tell you how much they love the house, even if they can't stand it. They're not going to openly discuss things they don't like as they would if it were just them and their agent ... they don't want to offend you.

It's to your advantage to have an escape plan-visit the ice cream shop, take the kids to the local park, walk through the neighborhood, visit a friend ... you get the idea.

Of course, it's not always possible to leave, so if you absolutely must stay, do your best to be out of they way. Find one area of the house-do not move from room to room. You may also face questions from the homebuyer ... if so, answer them, but it's inadvisable to volunteer any information.

Don't think that you're doing yourself any favors by sticking around ... you're not. For more advice on selling your home, talk to TIFFANY SHARKEY AND TONYA PEEK TODAY 214-356-4472.

Sometimes, I'm actually amazed by showing restrictions

I am primarily a listing agent, and certainly understand there are times when restrictions are necessary due to special circumstances such as a baby, home schooling, elderly or sick occupants, etc. However, if a home is difficult is to show, you may find that your pool of buyers is considerably smaller, simply due to scheduling conflicts or incompatibilities.

Real life example: One morning, I was scheduling showings for a couple of potential buyers. I selected the properties and called the showing service to set up times to show them. For one vacant property, I was told the seller requires a 48-hour notice and a 30-minute showing window for all appointments! Unfortunately, this did not fit in with my buyers' schedules and I had to pass on showing it to them.

If you're selling your home and you require advanced notice, ask your agent to put the restriction and reason in the private remarks section of MLS. Most people are very understanding and will accommodate your needs.

Also, allowing for only a 30-minute showing window is probably not sufficient. Keep in mind that your home may be the fifth showing of the day for a particular buyer. Because the amount of time a buyer spends at a property varies with his interest, it's very difficult to plan around a 30-minute window.

This is not just about sellers, either. Buyers must also understand that it's not always possible to show a home at the last minute. Routes need to be set up and showings scheduled in advance.

A little planning and courtesy can go a long way for both sides of the transaction! CONTACT TIFFANY SHARKEY AND TONYA PEEK 972-977-2254 TO LIST AND SELL YOUR HOME !!!!

The next level of clean

Aside from the necessary intrusions, the most inconvenient aspect of having your house on the market may well be keeping the house in showing condition.

Making a good impression on buyers is very important. It's not a huge leap for a potential buyer to equate a cluttered or dirty house with poor maintenance of the overall structure, systems, and appliances. Whether accurate or not, this can or result in a lower offer than the home might otherwise bring ... or worse, discourage an offer altogether.

Getting rid of clutter and keeping up with the constant cleaning can be a full-time job, so it helps to get help from everyone in the family. Even if you are neat and organized and keep a clean home, showing condition is another level. Keeping the house at such a level can be overwhelming. It may even benefit you to hire a short-term professional service to help ease your burden.

Some buyers may call for last-minute appointments to see your home. If it has gotten too messy, you may find that you simply can't spend the time to get it ready for a showing.

If you do find out you've only got a few minutes and it looks like a West Texas wind storm just swept through your house, pick up what you can and stow it somewhere-the trunk of your car, the washer and dryer, maybe even the dishwasher. Sure, they may take a peek inside your appliances, especially if they're conveying with the sale, but there's also a good chance they won't and your secret will remain safe.

You may even rent a storage space for your old furniture and other large or off-season items.

Keeping your house in prime condition when it's on the market is tough, but many hands make light work. Don't neglect this important part of selling your home-it may make a huge difference and considerably shorten the process. CONTACT TIFFANY SHARKEY AND TONYA PEEK FOR ALL YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS 972-977-2254.