This week's magazine stands are overflowing
with articles offering real estate advice for home sellers and buyers.
There is no shortage of "how to's" needed to survive in today's roller coaster real estate market. In the Home section of the May issue of Money Magazine a bold "For Sale by Any Means" article reviews several old and new strategies for getting your home sold. One suggestion about "swapping properties" has been covered on TV news and in the press- and while it sounds great- it has not caught on in our market.
There are additional articles covering topics such as enhancing curb appeal, finding a good mortgage broker, and the best places to buy homes today.
The current issue of Cincinnati Magazine is loaded with information about surviving in the "rough real estate market" and includes all sorts of "how to", "what if" articles as well as statistical details about neighborhoods.
No I am not a reviewer for real estate articles. The average consumer has access to a multitude of magazines, newspaper articles, tv shows and friends all suggesting if a seller just follow "50 steps" "8 inexpensive makeovers" "10 ways to entice buyers"...that their property would sell instantly.
Sellers need to sort out what "ideas" are appropriate for our local market and not waste time and money on the wrong "fixes".
Shop your competition! Today there are 13,042 single family homes and 2,386 condominiums listed for sale in the Greater Cincinnati Multiple Listing Service. Do you know how many are competing with your property in the same price range, same amenities, same schools? The buyers know all the details as they do comparison shopping on the internet and then in person.
Read "3 Key Words in Real Estate" spell out why pricing is still the most important element in real estate. Don't over improve your property and expect today's buyers to pay for your investment.
Put your consumer' hat on and decide if there was a choice of several very similar products - would you purchase the most expensive one?
Magazines, newspapers, cable shows all have great ideas and insights into today's real estate market. Make sure you are utilizing this information overload to your advantage.
Need help figuring out what to improve before listing your property? Give me a call at 513-300-4090 or send an email.
