Wayne Johnson Coldwell Banker D'Ann Harper Realtors

There are several hundred specific items that agents and homeowners can do to get a home ready for an Open House.

Both the agent and the homeowner should be in agreement that an Open House is the right event to use to expose the property to potential buyers. If both parties are not in agreement, the Open House will be wated effort and the one party not supporting the effort will likely be frustrated and disappointed in the outcome.

Here are my Tips For a Successful Open House

Agent Tasks

•·Promotion, Publicity, Advertising-People have to know in advance that the Open House will occur. Get the word out.

•Directional signs on the day of the event-Good signage can stimulate drive by visits from those in the area, unaware that an Open House is planned.

•Handouts-Property Flyers to describe the property's key attributes, and contact information for the listing agent; and Feedback Cards to rate the pros and cons of the property.

•Register Visitors-The homeowner is entitled to know who toured the property, and registration also provides a means to follow up with prospects. I like to send thank you notes to those who attend my Open House events.

Homeowner Tasks

•First Impression: Lawn cut and trimmed, no overgrown bushes, walk way and porch clean and neat, and remove cars from the driveway, and front of house. The house is the star, no distractions.

•Remove pets, pet dished, pet toys, and pet odors from the premises. Exception:If the property is a farm or working ranch.

•Remove from view money, check books, jewelry, financial statements, and prescription drugs.

•The overall feel being sought for the home is-clean, neat, and spacious.

•Things that lead to decluttering: removing excess furniture, reducing the number of items in closets, and exposing more counter space in kitchens.

Open House events do not guarantee an immediate offer to buy, but it does lead to more people seeing the house. Potential buyers seeing the house is always a good thing. Feel free to add to the list of Tips.

Some people are taking advantage of homeowners who are in trouble on their mortgages by offering to provide foreclosure assistance, for a fee, and providing zero help; in short a scam.

My guess is that some for hire foreclosure experts can help some homeowners. However, every dollar spent on the services of an expert is a dollar not available to pay the mortgage or other daily expenses.

There are government approved US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) housing counselors that provide free assistance. If you, or someone you know maybe facing foreclosure, or needs advice on some of the new programs to help homeowners remain in their home, try the free service first.

Here is a link to the Foreclosure Avoidance Counseling site

Don't wait until legal papers are served to seek counseling.

The tower reminds me of a "B" movie UFO from the '50's. "Take me to your leader."

Timberwood Park from the Water Tower, Camp Bullis in the distance

Had a five-minute hail storm, March 31, I found that my gutters need to be cleaned too.

Azeleas took a beat down.

Maybe the combination of lower of gas prices, from the historic highs of last year, and the hope that the stimulus packages, and bailouts will make things better are helping us see a boost in real estate activity in the Timberwood Park area. I know many of the people I worked with last year wanted to find homes inside Loop 1604 becasue of fuel prices and commuting time. That really slowed activity for me in Stone Oak, Bulverde Road corridor, and Timberwood Park. Things are looking better in 2009.

Of course, many are concerned about employment, and if the economic recovery is going to occur soon. But interest rates are at levels not seen for several years. The number of available homes gives buyers a wide variety of choices in many price ranges. This encourages sellers to price their house to meet market demands. Fortunately we have not had the rapid speculation price increases that have led to the dramatic market tumbles of some other high growth rate areas.

First-time home buyers could be positioned to take great advantage of the benefits included in the stimulus package. A $8,000 tax-credit, for example. Follow this link to some of the common questions and answers about this program. http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/2009/faq.php

Your specific questions should be addressed to your Realtor®, accountant, attorney, and or mortgage officer.

Call me if you need real estate assistance in the San Antonio area.