Smart Marketing Trumps the Trends

Smart Marketing Trumps the Trends

By Shannon Perod

We’ve all heard the doom and gloom reports about the state of the housing market. For a home owner looking to sell their property, there seems to be no good news. In fact, putting a home up for sale in today’s market could give any home owner a healthy dose of fear. Rebecca Nagorski was one such home owner, “It was with great trepidation that we placed our property in Santa Monica on the market in early winter. Just this week we closed escrow. The property was only on the market for one week; we had multiple offers, and the property sold for above asking price. This was not the experience we anticipated.”

To what does Nagorski attribute her success? Her realtor’s marketing strategy. “Our realtor, Ruben Perez, was able to guide us through this time of real estate uncertainty, helping us to come up with the proper price, and put together a very aggressive and professional marketing strategy.” says Nagorski. Mr. Perez not only helped his client to determine a price that would invite foot traffic and multiple bids, he also commissioned photography of the property and then used it to develop a web site for the property. A savvy real estate marketer, Perez spent money to create a media blitz that culminated in a spectacular open house event complete with valet parking. Clearly, the strategy paid off. While having a house sell in just one week with multiple offers was something rather common place a few years ago, it certainly is not the norm in today’s market.

Nagorski adds, “This is not the time to use a realtor who will merely list your property on the MLS. In today’s market, you need a realtor who is willing to invest in the successful sale of your property. You need someone who knows how to navigate through the challenges of the current real estate market, all the way to closing! For this, I am very pleased to recommend Ruben Perez.” Certainly it would appear that having the right realtor in your corner can make all the difference in successfully selling in today’s volatile market.

Property address: 1043 4th St Santa Monica, CA 90403
Property Website: http://www.reddooronfourth.com/mls/

Sold Price: $2,905,000

Want Your Home Sold? Call Today To Get Results

www.RubenPerezHomes.com

Trade Secrets for Effective Selling Part V

Simply Beautiful Kitchens

By Ruben Perez

I’ve saved the best for last! In the first four installments of this series we’ve talked about inexpensive strategies to make your home shine in today’s competitive selling market. By now your home sparkles from top to bottom, it is a light filled clutter free haven. You have paid for a home inspection and made decisions about important repairs. The outside of your home is clean, and the landscaping is crisp and cared for. Your bathrooms sparkle and where necessary sport fresh new fixtures. At last it is time to talk about the most important room in the house, the Kitchen.

The Kitchen is more often than not the pivotal room in any home purchase. For that reason sellers often feel pressured to do a kitchen remodel before placing a home on the market. Here the watch words are keep it simple! An expensive kitchen remodel may create more foot traffic but the cost will more than likely be unrecoverable.

Instead of making large changes in the kitchen, think of spending wisely and moderately. Replacing appliances is generally not worth it. Historically, we know that buyers prefer to purchase these item themselves so they can make style and feature choices. Counter tops can also be a huge expenditure. I wouldn’t recommend making a change unless the counter is literally falling apart, again the client would probably prefer to make a choice as to color and materials.

Low cost cosmetic fixes of paint, tile and fixtures can significantly update a kitchen while keeping costs down. This is another room where a stager can really add the right touch, without the expense of a huge remodel. And as always the proper real estate professional will be able to advise you as to the standards set by comparable properties in your area. Today’s market is competitive, having an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of your competition will give you a strong advantage.

I hope this series has shed some light on how to make your home competitive in today’s market. As a real estate professional, I pride myself on being able to help people successfully buy and sell their homes quickly and easily. If you are ready to sell your home I hope you will contact me so I can help you implement these and other tips in order to sell your home with a minimum of stress and effort.

Want Your Home Sold? Call Today To Get Results
www.RubenPerezHomes.com

Trade Secrets for Effective Selling Part IV

The Three T's

By Ruben Perez

So far in our tips for savvy sellers we’ve made some great strides toward preparing your home for today’s market. By now your home should shine in comparison to the competition. Thus far you’ve completed the “Clean Sweep” – you’ve de-cluttered, deep cleaned and created a spacious, light filled space with the help of a professional stager. You boldly moved through the “Knowledge is Power” phase and got a home inspection and began determining cost effective repairs with the help of your realtor. Next you took “The Outside Story” into consideration and enhanced your home’s curb appeal. Now we are ready to look at the all important bathrooms.

It’s important to realize that a full remodeling of bathroom is not only usually unnecessary, it’s probably not cost effective. What is cost effective is taking a really close look at the three t’s: Tub, Tile and Toilet. Because you have already done the deep clean, we can take a fresh look at sparkling bathrooms and see what has to be replaced.

Buyers like to see a bathroom that is ready for immediate use. They may want to remodel and update the look later but in general they prefer not having to do it before moving in. Quick inexpensive fixes consist of replacing any of the 3 t’s that aren’t up to par after the deep clean. A new toilet can be as inexpensive as $250, but could make the difference in how favorably your home is viewed by prospective buyers. In addition to the three t’s you will also want to be discerning with flooring and faucets. Again, relatively inexpensive to replace but powerful selling points for prospective buyers.

The key in the bathrooms is to keep it simple and cosmetic. Clean functionality is what will win votes with the buyers. Our last installment will look at the room where sellers are most in danger of making expensive, unrecoverable improvements: The Kitchen! Don’t miss my important advice about how to showcase your kitchen without spending a fortune.

Want Your Home Sold? Call Today To Get Results
www.RubenPerezHomes.com

Trade Secrets for Effective Selling Part III

The Outside Story

By Ruben Perez

As a seller in today’s market your home needs to stand out from the competition. In our first installment “The Clean Sweep” we showcased the assets of your home by de-cluttering, deep cleaning and seeking the help of a professional stager. In our second installment, “Knowledge is Power” you took the reigns in hand and commissioned a home inspection. With the knowledge gained from the inspection and the help of a seasoned realtor, such as myself, you’ve begun to make decisions about potential repair investments. In looking at where repair investments are potentially worth the expenditure, let’s turn our focus to the outside of your home.

We all know that curb appeal is a powerful selling tool. The outside of your home needs to look fresh, cared for and inviting. This is an ideal time to have a word with your gardener or landscaping service about having the outdoor equivalent of the deep clean that occurred inside your home. Flower beds should feature color and vibrant vegetation. Lawns should be lush, trimmed and edged.

When looking to the outside you may find repairs that are worth considering. Remodeling Magazine in its 2007 Cost to Value Report found that wood window replacements and siding replacements were cost effective repairs, recouping an average of over ¾ of their cost. Of course before making such an expenditure I would always recommend discussing it with your real estate professional. They will be aware of the cost and conditions of comparable properties and will provide the best advice.

Clearly the appearance of the outside of your home is vitally important. It is the all important first impression for all potential buyers. The outside of your home should clearly state the pride of ownership that you have strongly felt while living there. It is always easier to overcome objections on the inside of a home, when the outside has made a favorable impression than it is to overcome a bad first impression with a stunning interior. In the next installment we’ll venture back inside to focus on bathrooms, where I will offer inexpensive alternatives to costly remodeling projects.

Want Your Home Sold? Call Today To Get Results
www.RubenPerezHomes.com

Trade Secrets for Effective Selling Part II

“Knowledge is Power”

By Ruben Perez

In today’s market the savvy seller understands how to make their home outshine other real estate without spending money on unnecessary repairs. In our last installment, subtitled “The Clean Sweep”, we discussed the importance of clearing clutter and creating a clean light filled environment. Additionally we discussed the importance of seasoned professionals to help you in the sale of your home, potentially a professional stager and without question a realtor, such as myself, with a proven track record of excellence.

Now we can begin to look at your home and make informed decisions about where repairs might be worth doing. This is where I recommend getting a home inspection. It may sound unconventional, but why wait until you are in closing to find out potential problems with your home? Paying up front for the inspection yourself can actually save you money and time. It can expedite the closing process, instead of having it slowed down, and it puts you in control of the negotiation not the buyer. Statistically, buyers will ask for a $2 to $3 discount for every $1 dollar of perceived defect that is revealed by a home inspection.

Once you have done the inspection you can make informed decisions about the value of making individual repairs. Again this is where having a tried and true real estate professional can be your strongest asset. A seasoned professional, such as myself, can help you to determine which repairs will add to the value of your home and which will be an unnecessary and unrecoverable cost in the selling process.

Knowing what repairs need to be made to your home gives you the power to make the decisions that are right for you. It will expedite the closing process and could also entice buyers who appreciate a stress free closing. Stay tuned for next week’s installment: The Outside Story.

Want Your Home Sold? Call Today To Get Results
www.RubenPerezHomes.com

Trade Secrets for Effective Selling Part I

“The Clean Sweep”

By Ruben Perez

Congratulations, you’ve made the decision to place your home on the market! As a savvy real estate owner you’ve done your research and come to the realization that preparing your property for today’s market is vastly different than what it was in previous years. Gone are the days when the cost of making home improvements and remodeling could be easily recouped in the asking price. In today’s market you need to be incredibly selective about spending money on improvements. None the less you still need to prepare your property for sale. In a series of articles to follow I am going to breakdown the 5 simple steps to getting your home market ready.

The first step is something I like to call the “Clean Sweep”. Your entire focus needs to be on making your home look neat, clean and spacious. We all know that clutter is the enemy. When selling real estate it is the first thing that you want to neutralize. You can do this yourself or you can hire a professional stager to do it for you. I highly recommend hiring a stager and have several that I would be happy to recommend. Your time is valuable and a professional stager will be able to easily identify what should stay and what should go. I always recommend getting a storage unit so you can safely and effectively store any items that will be removed from your home while it is being sold. A professional stager will also help you to recreate your space and make it as light filled as possible, an important element in selling any home.

Once your home is de-cluttered and filled with light, it’s time to schedule a deep clean. Everything from baseboards to ceiling needs to be spotless. When speaking with your cleaning professionals ask them to pay particular attention to windows, lighting fixtures and appliances. Nothing identifies a home as “well cared for” more effectively than a spotlessly clean environment.

Once you have completed the clean sweep it is time to consult with another professional; a real estate professional. Of course you want the best; someone motivated, honest, smart and a proven producer, in short you want me. I will help you to look at the selling prices of comparable properties in your area and set the right price for your home. I will also assist you in every phase of the selling process, helping to make this a smooth, efficient transition for you and your loved ones. In the next article I will share tips with you on what repairs are cost effective in today’s market. Please feel free to leave comments and questions below; I’d love to hear from you.

Want Your Home Sold? Call Today To Get Results

www.RubenPerezHomes.com