About McLennan County, TX

On a Friday before a weekend and Spring Break I could mean a lot of things by writing "Don't Overdo It.". I will leave that to your imagination. What I am referring to is staging your home for sale. I just got finished with a consultation where the sweet owner had staged her home by herself. She had packed up all of her a personal items. Wonderful! Put away all of the pet items. Great! Packed all art work and items on her coffee table, end tables, bookcases, kitchen counter-tops, nightstands, etc.... Whoa! Wait a minute. Her home definitely was edited and simplified. She had just overdone it!

Imagine her surprise when we started digging through boxes and closets pulling out any item we could find to warm up her home. Artwork was rehung. The kitchen looks like you would love to cook in it. The living room and master bedroom look warm and inviting. It really did not take long or much time to get the proper amount of warmth back into her home.

Please remember not to overdo it when de-cluttering your home. My recommendation would be to hire a staging consultant before you list your home and then your time will not have been wasted. It is always best to get a second pair of objective and professional eyes to take a look. This particular client has had her home on the market for a few months and has gotten lots of showings but no sale. Hopefully, I will be able to report a sale soon!

As I am sitting at my desk perusing MLS property photo's, I am surprised at some of the pictures that I am seeing. Let this serve as a gentle reminder that oftentimes your listing photos are a client's first impression of a home. I know most of you know better but it is best not to reveal pictures of toilets, dirty dishes, unmade beds, trash cans, etc.

In a world where more and more potential clients are using the Internet to preview properties before they contact a real estate agent, the value of your photos cannot be overemphasized. This is your opportunity to make a great first impression.

To help, I always provide a follow-up visit with my home staging clients. At this time, we make sure the "punch list" is completed and we fine tune furniture and accessory placement. More importantly is the time we spend assisting the Realtor with their listing photos. We remove any items that may be distracting in the photos but are okay for touring. These may include but are not limited to paper towels, dish towels, and small electronics like phones and clocks. Fabulous photos are one more way to make sure your listing shines.

With this reminder, it is my hope that the "words" in "A picture is worth a thousand words" will become "Sold Mine."

Pretty lot in a desirable location in Woodway. Priced to sell with possible owner financing. Call Ann.

Welcome to the most current Housing Trends eNewsletter. This eNewsletter is specially designed for you, with national and local housing information that you may find useful whether you’re in the market for a home, thinking about selling your home, or just interested in homeowner issues in general.

Please click on this link to view the Housing Trends JULY - 2011 Newsletter http://malisaspivey.housingtrendsenewsletter.com

The Housing Trends eNewsletter contains the latest information from the National Association of REALTORS®, the U.S. Census Bureau, Realtor.org reports and other sources.

Housing Trends eNewsletter is filled with local and national real estate sales and price activity provided by MLSs and the National Association of Realtors, U.S. Census Bureau key market indicators, consumer videos, blogs, real estate glossary, mortgage rates and calculators, consumer articles, and REALTOR.com local community reports.

If you are interested in determining the value of your home, click the “Home Evaluator” link for a free evaluation report:

http://malisaspivey.housingtrendsenewsletter.com/dispContent.cfm?loadid=2&loadtype=0

Sound decisions can only be made with accurate and reliable information, and I am happy to be a trusted resource for you. Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with this monthly eNewsletter, and I look forward to answering any questions you may have and to the opportunity to be your REALTOR® in the future.

Sincerely yours,

Malisa Spivey
Re/Max Affluent Realty
6700 Sanger Ave. Waco TX 76710 254-776-8100 | 254-495-7735 malisaspivey@gmail.com