There are five things necessary for every seller of a property!

1. First, find a professional you trust! Then listen! Listen to suggestions for pricing, staging and showing the property.

2. Prepare the house by de-cluttering. Start packing. If you are intent on selling, then you are intent on moving. Collect boxes, and fill them!

3. Clean the house. Top to bottom—make it sparkle. Hire help if necessary. Don’t let any buyers inside until the house is spotless. It means dollars in an offer!

4. Repair everything that you’ve been living with that isn’t quite right. Look around—dripping faucets, peeling paint, window blinds that are broken or crooked, dull or ugly paint—it’s what the buyers see first. Maybe it’s time to re-roof. Sellers can do it for half of what the buyer’s take off an offer price! One negative aspect of a terrific home can affect the willingness of the purchaser to pay the asking price.

5. Be flexible. In a market that is flooded with properties and fewer buyers, the trick is to beat the competition. If sellers want to sell, and marketing time has extended, it’s time to re-think decisions on pricing, conditions, and availability. It might be time to do a bit more fix-up, change the price and have open houses. Work with your professional to re-think strategies.

THEN, congratulations…..you’re on the move!

I am noticing that there are more and more “for sale” signs going up in neighboring yards. Open house signs are popping up on the streets on Sunday afternoons. It must be spring. While I am busy with our Realtor association business, my priority is still helping my clients with their real estate needs.

The clock frequently reports that Linda is up later than usual. Jim and I were laughing today about our awareness that life is short and we are just “tap dancing” a little faster. So much to do! This last week you can find five new homes listed on my web site. Every seller is being reasonable in their pricing and I am very proud to say that each home is attractive and has been lovingly prepared for the marketplace. We are optimistic about the market this year—families still wanting to make changes.

On a quick note, congratulations to two families that recently closed on their new homes! Amy and Curtis and their children—what a delight. Kevin and Kay—from the East coast all the way West! It has been my privilege to work for these families.

Let’s talk weather – common topic. Always changing and out of our control! When we’re taught how to carry on a conversation the weather is a real “opener”.  Last year our great northwest was buried in snow – really buried. I was reminded of the extent of our record breaking snow fall while looking through the tax records and saw a picture taken December 22, 2008. I couldn’t see the house!

While giving a chuckle and feeling very smug after having taken a walk outside without my coat, my sympathies were with the east coast residents. Weather patterns change and it does affect our real estate market. There are buyers looking at homes right now… and they can see what they are buying. This year’s mild winter has been a blessing for buyers and sellers! It’s time to get your home ready for market if you’re planning on making a move this year. Statistics tell us that spring is the most active time for buying and selling. Time to move!

For those who aren’t on my mailing list or if you just prefer to view things online, the new spring newsletter is now available. Topics include:

2009 Online Survey Results
We sent an invitation to everyone on my mailing list to participate in our survey. We have listed a few of the items that you might find interesting and will certainly help us serve you better.

Home Valuation
What are the things that make one home more valuable than another? If you are buying or selling a home, here are some things to think about.

Home Upgrade: The Mudroom
One of the more useful upgrades you can make to your home could be the lowly mudroom. Here are some ideas on how to make the best use of the space.

Download: Linda Miller Spring 2009 Newsletter (1MB PDF)

My flower pots are empty and screaming for attention! With great anxiousness I await the blooming trees. Then it snows! Before I get myself into a “twitter” let’s talk about our landscaping. Whether considering how we live with our landscaping choices, or we are going to sell (now or in the future) here are some ideas I have gathered over the years. In fact, having just been with several different buyers recently, I’ll share with you some of their comments.

First, do you like simplicity or all the master gardener details and variety? Buyers with children do not like a yard requiring time consuming maintenance. Also, I noticed that ponds, waterfalls, and taller ledges (while visually attractive) don’t appeal to protective parents. If you are like Jim and me, our little pond offers pleasant sounds, a variety of colors and plants, and a pleasing visual effect – but we have to watch the grandkids closely when they visit. Consider how you will live in your yard – and who. Maybe the birds, squirrels and occasional turkeys and deer will help you make some decisions. For instance, all my spring bulbs are in fenced areas. Those deer find tulips delectable!

The plan to stay in our homes for many years allows us to “do our own thing”, but what if we’re trying to sell a property? Here are some ideas: consider good color in the front yard. Red and yellow. Psychologists tell us that yellow is the first color our eyes process – but I’ve always said a pot of red flowers will do wonders for first impressions. Walkways are more pleasant if they are curved – maybe flowers marking the pathway. There are so many different water features available now that wouldn’t cause parental concern – it’s worth considering. Water enhances ambiance, is relaxing and refreshes the spirit. Some flowers have a pleasant fragrance – use them near the front entrance. Not enough can be said for neatness. Bushes trimmed, trees not blocking views, shrubs healthy and grass mowed.

Here’s a suggestion: if you are going to sell, start on the yard first. It takes awhile for plantings to grow – then go to the inside for fresh paint and decluttering. Oh yes, a side benefit – if you start sprucing up your yard, it will encourage the neighbors to do the same. That helps create a great first impression when buyers drive down the street. In every neighborhood we have lived in, there has been one “neat-nik”. Now that is pressure! Motivating. You might even decide that everything looks so good – why move? That doesn’t sound like a Realtor, does it? Hmmmmm…