If you’re thinking about putting your home on the market in the coming months, here are a few things you can do to get it ready and fetch a higher price:

1. Take an overall look at the home. If your kitchen is a little dated, you don’t need a full renovation. Just replacing the countertops, for example, can bring a ton of value.

2. Change out your appliances. Your appliances should be updated and matching. It’s not super expensive, but it can really make a difference.

3. Change the entry or garage doors. If they’re looking worn, this should be done.

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4. Roofing and windows. If they’re starting to show their age, you can get 75% back on your investment by replacing them.

These simple tips will help maximize your sale price. If you have any questions about what you can do for your property, please feel free to reach out via phone or email. We would love to hear from you. 

Today I’m discussing Zillow’s home valuations, which are called Zestimates. Zillow uses three factors to come up with your house’s value: location, square footage, and what the sales in your neighborhood have been. They don’t take into consideration the particular features of your house or any improvements that you’ve made.

Therefore, it’s in your best interest to have a Realtor come take a look at your property, and only use Zestimates as a loose guideline. A real estate agent will have the best advice about where to place your home on the market. They can also offer great advice on a myriad of other things you’ll need to know about how to sell your house.

If you would like our team to come take a look at your home, please reach out to us by phone or email. We would love to help you!

Today I want to share a quick message about closing costs. Closing costs are fees incurred from obtaining a mortgage loan for your home purchase, and they can range from 2% to 5% of the overall purchase price.

You don’t always have to pay closing costs, though. There is a rural development loan that doesn’t require any closing costs if you qualify for it. You can also negotiate with the seller for them to pay your closing costs.

If you’d like to know more about closing costs, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

Today I want to provide you with four tips to help you make your home more energy-efficient. We’re quickly approaching the winter season, so use these tips to save energy and money:

1. Use natural light. Open blinds and curtains to let the sunshine warm up each room.

2. Get a thermostat you can schedule. Schedule the heat to turn down while you’re at work or at night when you don’t need as much heat.

3. Insulate leaky windows. Make sure all leaks are sealed—this is a massive money saver.

4. Don’t heat unused rooms. There’s no sense in heating a room if you aren’t going to be in it. Shut the door and turn off the vents.

For more energy-efficient tips or if you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. I look forward to speaking with you.

The 2019 holiday season has officially begun! We hope you are as excited as we are.

We’d like to take a moment to express our gratitude to all of you this Thanksgiving. We have met some truly wonderful people, and we’re proud to have helped so many reach their real estate goals over the years.

We wouldn’t be where we are today without all of your support.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner with all of your family and friends—that’s what we plan to do!

In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any real estate questions. We would be happy to help you.

Now that we’re approaching the end of 2019, it’s time to review the latest numbers from our market. First, our absorption rate is at six months, which means we’re in a stable market that favors neither buyers nor sellers.

Year over year, our average list price has risen about 4% from $175,000 to $203,000. Our average sale price has also risen about 1% from $154,000 to $177,000. Our average days on market, meanwhile, has dropped 31% to 38 days, which is good news.

If you don’t live in Mecosta County and you’d like a market update for your area, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d be glad to help you.

When listing your home, it’s important that you price it correctly for the current market from the first day it goes on sale. Doing so will generate an offer right away, especially given the fact that we’re in a seller’s market. How do you price it correctly? Have your agent give you an equity evaluation, which takes into account several important variables, including sold comparable properties. Using the internet as a basis to price your home is not a good idea, because what really influences your home’s price is the different prices your neighbors’ homes have sold for. There are three things that sell a home quickly: location, condition, and pricing. If all three of these factors align, you’ll attract an offer within 30 days. If you have any more questions about pricing your home or you have any other real estate needs I can take care of, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

1. Getting too emotionally involved. It’s best to take your “homeowner” cap off and put your “home seller” cap on and think of your sale as a business transaction. 

2. Not hiring a professional agent. Your agent will help you set a fair, marketable price for your home.

3. Asking for an unrealistic price. Whether you use an agent or not, setting an unrealistic price is a huge mistake because buyers are very savvy these days.

4. Not using professional photos.

5. Hiding any major problems within the home. 

If you’d like to know more about this topic or have any questions about how to sell your home for top dollar, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’d love to help you.

Today I want to send out a huge thank you to those of you who donated your time, energy, and money to our backpack drive this year. It was truly appreciated, not only by myself and my team, but by our community as well. And as always, if you ever have any questions about real estate or future opportunities to give back to the community, don't hesitate to contact me. I'd love to hear from you.

To get your home ready to sell this summer, there are some things you should do to prepare it. First, make sure you declutter. You’re going to be moving anyway, so pack things away in storage. Then you’ll want to hire a handyman to do some minor repairs or painting around the home. I also recommend that you spruce up your landscaping out front to make it more inviting for buyers. Finally, think about staging your home so that buyers can see themselves living in it. If you have any questions for me or want some more tips about getting your home ready for sale, don’t hesitate to reach out and give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.