The Deb Ward Team

Why Listing Your Home For Sale During The Holidays Makes Sense

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Thanksgiving is right around the corner. You’ve decided to list your Clearwater home for sale, but you’re not sure if you should wait until after the holidays to put it on the market. Well, good news! No need to wait! The holidays are a great time to list your home for sale.

Serious Buyers

Why List Your Clearwater Home For Sale During The Holidays Makes SenseSo why should you list your Clearwater home for sale during the holidays? Well, there are several reasons. First, you will find a stable of more serious buyers. People are busy during the holidays and don’t have time to spend time browsing through homes, meaning fewer “tire-kickers.” Those looking will be much more serious about buying. There are also fewer homes on the market, lowering the competition. Many people decide to take their homes off the market during the holidays. They think they won’t sell, or don’t want to be “hassled” with showing during the holidays. Wrong thinking, but it will work to your advantage. Serious buyers means your home will sell!

Holiday Decorating

Other reasons? Well, do you decorate your home? Think about how great it looks. You move extraneous furniture, put up a tree, wreaths, lights. Your rooms look beautiful and roomier. Buyers will be able to picture what it would look like during THEIR holidays. It brings up positive emotions that help them hook their hearts on your home. Buying decisions are made on an emotional level, not a rational one. Holiday decorating may help you sell your home.

Taxes

Did you know that there are tax reasons why buyers might have to buy by the end of the year? What about those who can’t wait until spring to buy? Moving may be necessary between school semesters, or because of a job situation.

Is It A Hassle?

So what about that “hassle”? Selling during the holidays is no more of a hassle than selling any other time of the year. Yes, you have to keep the home clean and staged, but as with any other time of the year, you control when it is shown and have the option to decline showings.

So, don’t wait, list now and give yourself the gift of selling your home!

If you would like to find out how to list your Clearwater Home For Sale during the holidays, give The Deb Ward Team a call TODAY!!! 727-410-0336

Are You Willing To Do What It Takes To Sell Your Home?

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Are You Willing To Do What It Takes To Sell Your Home?It’s time to sell your Clearwater home, are you willing to do what it takes to sell it? Do you even know what to do? Even just the basics? Well, here are some things you should do if you are willing to do what it takes to sell your home.

Check Out Your Fridge

Ok so first, take a look at your refrigerator. Yes, really, your refrigerator. What’s on it? Is there a collection of clutter on top of it? Cereal boxes? Extra containers? What about on it? A dozen magnets? Menus? The latest art project or projects from your kids? Not what prospective buyers need to see. It’s a bit hard to see themselves in your kitchen if it looks like your kitchen!

Cracks and Dings or Nail Holes

Next, walk room to room and look at the state of the walls. Are there holes, dings, cracks or other things that should be fixed? Remember that really ugly picture you took down? Well, the hole from the nail holding it up should probably be spackled. If you were buying a home would you want to buy one that obviously needed some work to be done? Cracks and holes are signs to a buyer that you might just be leaving other things undone.

How’s the Paint?

As you look at all those walls check the paint? Remember when your kids had you paint their rooms all those wild colors? What about that dark “accent” wall gone awry? Yeah, it might just be time to make all that just a bit less wild and a bit more neutral. You might have liked having your living room colors of your favorite football or baseball team, but your buyer might not!

Last Thing

Ok, last thing. Sweep up the dog hair and pick up the kid’s toys. Who wants to step over toys or watch the dust bunnies blow around as they look at your home? I bet they don’t come back to look again! So do what you have to do, and mostly listen to your Realtor when they tell you what really needs to be done to sell your home!

If you are ready for a truly honest opinion on what it will take to sell your Clearwater home, give us a call today!

727-410-0336

Clearwater Real Estate: Selling Your Home When You Live Out of Town

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If you own Clearwater real estate, but don’t live here, selling can be a challenge. It doesn’t have to be, however, and using the right Realtor can make it a breeze. It just takes good marketing, a little coordination and a lot of trust.

Find The Right Realtor

Clearwater Real Estate: Selling Your Home When You Live Out of Town The first thing is making sure you find the right Clearwater Realtor. Make sure to look for one that will be diligently marketing your property even when you aren’t around to be sure the job is being done. Be sure to discuss with them your expectations about number of showings, types of marketing, etc., just as you would if you were local, but also how you’re going to hold them accountable since you aren’t there.

Ask Some Questions

A reasonable question to ask would be “how much real estate have you sold for absent owners?” The more real estate for absent owners, the better. Be sure to also ask what their average time on the market is for both local and absent owners homes. Also ask them about after they get the offer/contract on the home: what’s their process for handling that with you.

Settlement Questions and Repairs

Then, after the contract has been put in place, then find out their process for helping you through settlement. Of course you can make a trip to do the actual settlement, but what about taking care of any necessary repairs that the inspection uncovers? And final walk-throughs? Again, having a Realtor you can trust to take care of that is priceless in the sales process.

Selling Your Real Estate

Selling your real estate from far away doesn’t have to be a chore. If it is handled for you by a Realtor with integrity, a process, and fabulous marketing strategy in place, your Clearwater real estate will quickly be off the market, sold FAST and for the most money!

Looking for a great Realtor to represent you in your out of area home sale, give Deborah Ward a call today!

727-410-0336

Homebuyers : How To Avoid Getting Into A Bidding War

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The housing market has improved and homebuyers have to be aware that the chance of a bidding war is out there. Do you know how to give yourself the best way to win that bidding war? Here are a few things that should put your offer at the top of pile.

Financing

First thing you should do as a homebuyer, is make sure you have your financing in place before you start your house search. Find the lender you wish to use, apply and do everything the lender requires in order to How To Avoid Getting Into A Bidding Wargive you a preapproval letter. Have it in hand before submitting an offer.

Keep a folder with current pay stubs, bank statements and all of the paperwork they will need to process it once you do have the pre approval. In some places, it’s common to accompany your offer with a financial information sheet detailing your job history, salary and bonuses, 401(k) balance, how much you have for a down payment, and where the down payment money is. Show the seller that you are serious and able to purchase their home, and you will win the war.

Next, make a fair offer. In a seller’s market, that means make a full price offer. If there have been other offers made, consider an above asking offer. Also make sure you have a higher than average deposit.

Contingencies

Another good idea is to keep the amount and type of conditions out of the offer. Things like contingencies for selling your current home, or extended times for financing approval. Some people will say drop the home inspection contingency, but that isn’t a good idea. Instead, read all disclosures and ask if the sellers have had a home inspection prior to listing the home.

If that is acceptable, you can still have your own inspection in order to provide information on the home’s condition. You can also have an inspection done prior to making an offer, or bring one along with you when you tour the home, and if they feel it is acceptable then make a non-contingent offer. If you do this you should have a home inspector ready almost the day the home goes on the market.

Being prepared will get you the home you want. Be prepared!

Getting Your House in Shape to Sell

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If you’ve decided to sell your Florida home, getting it in tip top shape isn’t optional, especially if you want to get top dollar. You can start home staging on your own, with some of the tips below, but your best bet is to then have a great realtor come in and do a good walk through to see if you missed anything.

Getting Your House in Shape to Sell | Home Staging Clearwater St PeteThe first things you need to do in getting your home in shape to sell is clean and declutter your home. Realistically you will be doing both at the same time. Go room to room and look around. You should be taking down and packing up at least half of what is in it, and in closets and cabinets. You’re going to be moving and packing anyway, so get a head start. As you are removing things you will see areas of your home that need a good scrubbing or fixing.

Getting your home in shape to sell means making your home look less personal. Personal things should be the first to be packed. Buyers want to be able to picture their things in the house, and seeing your family pictures and memorabilia everywhere will make that difficult. Clutter also makes rooms look and feel smaller. Small doesn’t get you top dollar, spacious does, so the more it feels spacious, the better.

As you pack, scrub. The cleaning should be a deep, floor to ceiling and everything in between cleaning. Under furniture, in closets, behind doors because buyers look everywhere. Steam clean carpets, wax and buff hard woods and make every surface gleam.

Fixing things in the house helps you in getting your home in shape to sell. Once things are clean and decluttered, you will probably see things that need fixing. Fill nail holes in walls, spackle and touch them up. Chipped paint on door jams and woodwork are noticeable and make things look shabby. If you find that the touch ups don’t match the paint on the wall, repaint. This is especially true if your walls are dark or bright colors. Neutral is better. Make sure cupboards open and shut, that their doors are level and match and that no faucets are dripping. Bedrooms and baths should get new linens. Find bedding that looks modern and minimal.

Now you should have your realtor come in and let you know what still needs to be done. The owners that follow our advice frequently sell faster and for more money than they thought they would get!

Give us a call today to find out about listing your Clearwater or St Pete Home for Sale 727-410-0336

When Selling Your Clearwater Home Don’t Make These Screwups!

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You’ve decided on selling your Clearwater home and the process can be overwhelming. Not to mention that everyone you know has all kinds of advice for you about what to do or not do. The problem may be that their “advice” isn’t very good! So don’t make these five big screw ups when selling your Clearwater home.

Screw up #1: price your home wrong. This can be so difficult. You live in your home and probably think you know what it’s worth. You’re probably wrong. Overvaluing or undervaluing, not pricing your home correctly can cost you thousands of dollars. That house up the street just sold for $X so why shouldn’t yours? Well, that house up the street has a completely updated kitchen, When Selling Your Clearwater Home Don't Make These Screwups!bath and extra bedroom. That’s why! But undervaluing is almost as big a problem. Many markets have been so depressed for so long that now that they are finally rebounding, many homeowners don’t realize their homes are worth more than they thought.

Screw up #2: having unrealistic expectations about the current real estate market. Yes, markets are picking up, but that doesn’t mean that there will be a huge bidding war for your home. So not entertaining an offer because “something better will come along” if the offer is fair is, well, kind of dumb.

Screw up #3: hiring a the wrong Realtor. Don’t hire your cousin, best friend or sister-in-law only because they are your cousin, best friend or sister-in-law. You need to hire a Realtor who shares your vision, and understands your needs. Gimmicky Realtors, questionable sales tactics and the lowest commission may mean you get sub-par representation in your home sale.

Screw up #4: not hiring a Realtor and selling by yourself. Did you know that selling your home yourself will cost you at least $40,000? Or that it will mean the home sits for at least a few months before you sell? Enough said.

Screw up #5: not disclosing home defects. Guess what? A home inspector is going to find that foundation issue or leaky pipe. You can’t hide them and it’s actually illegal to refuse to answer questions about it or lie to prospective buyers about defects if they ask.

Answer to all of the above? Hire a professional. If you are looking for a great Clearwater Realtor, give us a call today! 727-410-0336

The Deb Ward Team

Keller Williams Realty
30522 U.S. Highway 19 N, #107
Palm Harbor, FL 34684
Phone: 727-410-0336
Fax: 727-474-9069
Email: info@DeborahWard.com
The Deb Ward Team at Keller Williams Realty specializes in all of Pinellas County, Florida including: Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Dunedin, St. Petersburg, and the Gulf Beaches from Clearwater Beach down to St. Pete Beach serving buyers and sellers with a focus that is rarely found in the real estate world!