Babylon, NY

The length of time a property is on the market is a significant factor in the selling process. Buyers want to know how long a home has been on the market before making an offer. Most buyers will make a lower offer when a home has been on the market for more than 30 days. They assume the seller is so anxious for a sale, they will accept less. However, if a home has been available for only a few days, buyers tend to make offers closer to the list price. If the days on market is very high, some buyers will not even consider a property, thinking something may be wrong with it. Educated buyers know what is probably “wrong” is the price was set higher than current market values and they use high days on market to their advantage in negotiating lower offers.

Sellers need to be aware of days on market for two reasons. First, the more time their home is on the market, the lower the offers will be from buyers. This is why properties almost always sell at their highest price in the first days of exposure to the market, especially in depreciating markets when prices are falling. Review the statistical graphs for your area to see if inventory is still high compared to sales, indicating a continuing depreciating market.

Second, sellers need to consider average days on market for the brokerage company they choose to represent them. Coldwell Banker has lower average days on market because we assist sellers in positioning their home to sell in the first days of exposure, resulting in the highest possible price in the current market.

If you would like to discuss how days on market statistics affect your situation, or if you or anyone you know needs advice about today's housing market, please contact me.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Last year my husband won a contest that Subway and Mastercard were having. We won to go see the Jet's game and go down on the field during half time for the Superbowl Reunion III that included Joe Namath.

We were ushered to the tunnel and were with the families of the reunion team members. I struck up a conversation with a really nice woman named Denzi from Atlanta, Georgia. Her husband is Don Maynard. She was telling me that her hubby and Joe are great friends. They used to room together for years in the early days.

So, I told her my son collects autographs and she takes my son by the arm and brings him to Joe Namath. At first he was reluctant since he doesn't sign autographs anymore due to people selling them but he did because of her. I will never forget wha she did for my son.

We also met Mark Gastineau and his wife. She was so NICE as well! Here is a pic:

I found a Youtube video: Super Bowl III We were on the field at that point but not right in front of them yet. Here are some pics of that day that I took and I hope you enjoy them!

My son collects celbrity autographs. He met Joan Rivers at a book signing and last weekend met with The Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. My ex went with him since I had to work. My son said he was so nice and you could tell he wanted to be there. Come celebs just sign and barely say anything to you.

All you have to do is select a card, select the saying that is already written for you, your first name and hometown and that is it.

They are there protecting our freedom with their own lives. Sure, they chose the profession but it is what it is. Please, send a card today. It will make their day! Thank you!

Send A Free Card

Most sellers are under the assumption that selling their home in the Spring increases their chances of selling quickly because most people look for homes during the nicer weather. Not all true.

1. The fall and winter bring out the serious buyers. Spring time will have a mix of serious buyers and the "just looking" type and it's hard to tell who is who unless you know for a fact they are pre-approved for a mortgage. When someone looks at your house in the middle of the winter, you know for the most part, they are very serious. Who wants to "just look" at homes when it's 25 degrees outside and windy? I opt to stay in those days with a cup of hot chocolate unless I have a serious buyer to help them buy a home.

2. You, the seller, has less competition around you. In other words, there will not be a lot of homes listed during the fall and winter months comparable to yous and that means more pre-approved, serious buyers to view YOUR home.

Here is an example:

Newly Listed Homes in Babylon for
January 2009: 10
February 2009: 18
March 2009: 21
April 2009: 27

See how the numbers kept creeping up?

Newly Listed Homes in Babylon for
August: 21
September: 20
October: 7
November 1st Through November 13th: 9

So, October and November took a nose-dive compared witih August and September.

I can understand not wanting to list your home during November and December during the major holidays. It's busy enough as it is without selling your home in the process.

Here is some food for thought:

1. Think of selling your home like you are running a business. The less competition against you, the better it is for you. Out-smart the competition!

2. Price your home AT MARKET VALUE. When a home is truly priced at the current market value, it will not take 60 days or more to sell. A lot of sellers go against their Agent's advice and want to price it at above market value. That is NOT going to work for you. The buyer pool is smarter than that and your home is just going to sit and collect cobwebs, not offers.

I always offer No Obligation Comparable Market Analysis. I come to you with numbers, not a sales spiel. If you can't afford to price at market value, then it's not a good time to sell and I will not take a listing priced above market value anyway because yours and my time will be wasted and you'll end up not happy with me in the long run. I want you happy.

Hope you enjoyed reading this post! Have an awesome week ahead!