What Buyer’s HATE … STALKER SELLER’S !!!

What Buyer’s HATE … STALKER SELLER’S !!!

 Stalker Home Sellers Scare Away Potential Real Estate Buyers!
Stalker-ish sellers. I know you think you’re being helpful, walking the buyer through your home and pointing out the wagon-wheel light fixture you made with your own two hands, the custom mural of a stingray you paid top dollar to have painted across your living room wall and the way the sounds ...of happy schoolchildren running across the front yard of your corner lot to get to the school in the next block lifts your spirits. However, the buyers might be trying really hard to ignore, minimize or figure out how to undo the very features of your home you hold dear. They also may want or need to have personal space and conversations with their mate or their agent while they’re viewing your home - you being there, especially walking right alongside them while they’re in your home, prevents them from being comfortable about doing this, or discussing all the things they would change if the home were theirs. In my experience, the more nit picky a buyer gets about a house and the more detailed their list of things they would change, the more serious they are about considering making an offer on this place.

 What’s a Seller to do? Back off.
If you are selling "By Owner", walk behind them and don’t speak until they ask you a question and only answer what they want to know. This is very difficult to do but... To much information turns them off from looking.
If you are listed with an agent, let your home be shown vacant, or leave the house when people come to see it. If you need to be there, at least walk outside or go sit at the coffee shop down the way while prospective buyers view your home. If the buyers have questions, their people will contact your people.


Don’t be a “ STALKER SELLER “ Call JoAnn Deville Smith " When Experience Matters! " 318.451.2385

JoAnn Deville Smith 318.451.2385

3600 Jackson St Ext. Suite 123 318.619.7796

Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated. Licensed in the State of Louisiana

 

 

FSBO Open House Saftey Tips in Pineville La.

I can’t stress safety enough these days.  We’ve all heard stories on the news about real estate agents who are lured to a vacant listing and are raped, robbed and murdered.  I’m sure you’re thinking “Surely I’m safe in my OWN home?”

Don’t be so sure. 

Did you realize that FSBO sign in your front yard is an invitation for anyone to ask to come into your home?  That includes those with not-so-great intentions.  In today’s world it’s not so hard to imagine a thief posing as a prospective buyer and getting YOU to give him a tour of YOUR home so he can see first hand if there’s anything of value. 

Here are a few tips to help keep you safe:

Attempt to have a buyer pre-qualify before showing them your home.  It’s the easiest way to have more information about them and see if they are serious.

Obtain contact information BEFORE the showing.

When possible have at least two people present when showing your house.  If you are alone invite a friend over to be present.

Chose a designated friend (not someone IN your home) to notify of the showing and check with after the showing.  Make sure you give them the buyer’s information in case there is a problem they can notify authorities.

Remove or put away valuables including jewelry, cash, credit cards and any collectibles.

For more Tips and or Advice contact JoAnn Deville Smith 318.451.2385
 or click here JoAnn's FSBO Services


Licensed in the State of Louisiana. Each KW office is independently owned and operated.

                                    318.619.7796  3600 Jackson St Ext  Alexandria la 71303

How to Prepare for a Home Inspection

How to Prepare for a Home Inspection

If you are in the process of selling your home, the new buyer will usually have your home inspected before the final sale.  This can be a nervous experience for both the buyer and seller since the home inspection can make the sale fall through or sale price reduced if the home is not in as good of shape as it appears.  Keep in mind that the potential buyer often accompanies the inspector during the home inspection.  Before your home is inspected, make sure to do the following:

1)  Repair anything that is broken and remove any signs of previous repairs. If you had a water leak under your sink that has been fixed, make sure the bottom of the cabinet does not have water stains. If you repaired something behind a wall, make sure the wall patch blends in perfectly to the existing wall. If you repaired something under the grass in your back yard, make sure the grass has been replaced so there are no signs of any repairs. If you do a repair to your home, make sure to do a permanent repair, not just a temporary fix that might cause concern with the home inspector.

2)  Make sure there are no bugs or insects in or around your home. Treat for ants and other bugs several days before the home inspection. Make sure there are no ant beds, spider webs, or any other signs of current or previous bug issues in your home.

3)  Make your entire home accessible to the home inspector, such as leaving a pet in a certain room and asking for the home inspector to not to enter the room. If the home inspector can't access an area, he/she can't do a proper home inspection. The inspector and potential buyer may be concerned that you are trying to hide something.

4)  Clean your home well before the home inspection. An unclean home is not a well maintained home, which will cause concern for the potential buyer. Make sure to clean inside your closets, inside your appliances (especially the microwave), your baseboards, your window blinds, your light fixtures, and everywhere else that may not get cleaned every week.  Always install fresh air filters in your return air vents before the home inspector arrives. Do not use strong fragrances inside your home because it may seem that you are trying to disguise a foul odor.

5)  Do not try and conceal or disguise anything from the home inspector because this is unethical.

                     For More Tips or Help Selling your Home .... FSBO Support Services

         Licensed in the  State of Louisiana, Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

Prep Your House for Sale in Pineville LA.

                15 Easy Ways to Prep Your House for a Sale

 

• Use "home wash" (a hose attachment that is available at any home improvement store) to clean the outside of the house.
• Clean rain gutters as well as outside windows and screens.
• Make sure the front door is inviting. Paint it if needed. Also, replace any outdated exterior lighting fixtures.
• Buy new house numbers if the old ones are dated or faded. Be sure buyers can see the new ones from the curb.
• Buy a new welcome mat.
• Eliminate half of your belongings - clutter can cost you a sale. Rent a storage unit or portable pod for extraneous pieces of furniture or knickknacks. Another idea is to ask a friend if you can borrow some space in his or her garage.
• Organize all closets and drawers. Buyers might look there.
• Make any necessary repairs so that buyers don't have to add that to their mental list of post-purchase expenses.
• Rearrange furniture to make rooms appear as large as possible.
• Make every surface shine, from ceiling fans to baseboards. Don't forget interior windows, mirrors and floors.
• Scrub every inch of the kitchen and bathrooms.
• Depersonalize each room, removing photo frames and posters or artwork.
• Buy new linens and pillows if necessary. Be certain they are a neutral color.
• Buy air neutralizer and spray it often.
• Let go emotionally of your home, and get ready for an offer!

 

JoAnn Deville-Smith 318.451.2385

www.MyDreamhome71360.com

 

 

 

Licensed in the State of Louisiana

Each KW office is independently Owned and Operated

 

FSBO Open House Tips in Pineville LA.

     Assuming you've already decided to sell your house yourself -- or go FSBO -- rather than hire a real estate agent, keep in mind that preparing, marketing and showing your home take time and research.

Many real estate agents question an open house's effectiveness to actually close a sale and rather use the event to meet potential clients. Less than 4 percent of home sales have been through an open house.

But for FSBOs who may not have the time or flexibility to take weekday appointments and host private tours, the open house may be the only way to get potential buyers through the door. That said, you don't want to sit around on a Sunday afternoon waiting for people to come by.

Follow these six steps to hosting your own successful open house.

   

                                   

 

                                                      JoAnn's FSBO Solutions  

 

Step 1: Check out the competition
Visit other open houses in your neighborhood and surrounding areas. See how other homes are staged and listen to what the real estate agents say. Make note of the features they point out -- they know what today's buyers are looking for. As you walk through, try to listen to buyers' reactions.

Open houses are traditionally held on non-holiday Sundays. Find out when nearby homes are holding open houses, so you can benefit from the foot traffic.

Step 2: Prepare a property description sheet
Real estate agents hand out property description sheets to everyone who attends the open house. You should to. Collect the following information:

• Property address
• Asking price
• Your contact info (including a URL to your Web site or online ad)
• Brief description of the property
• Exterior and interior photos
• Maintenance or HOA fees (if applicable)
• Real estate taxes
• Total square footage
• Number of bedrooms
• Number of bathrooms
• Appliances that are included
• Outdoor spaces
• Any special features (fireplace, finished basement, etc.)
• Recent upgrades you made
• Neighborhood amenities (shopping, recreation, freeways, public transportation, etc.)
• School information

You can use programs like Microsoft Word to design a simple and clear flyer. Remember to have plenty of copies available.

The property description sheet will come in handy when creating your listing and online ads.

Step 3: Prepare and stage the home

You've probably heard of "staging" -- the process of preparing a home for sale via de-cluttering, depersonalizing and neutralizing, among other techniques. Keep these in mind:

• Your home must be spotless and clutter-free. Model homes get offers. Dirty homes get lowball offers or none at all.
• Fix what's broken.
• Make smart updates based on what buyers want and what's standard for your neighborhood.
• Place furniture in such a way to maximize the spacious feel of every room.
• Learn the four steps to making your home open-house ready.

Step 4: Spread the word
Top real estate agents tap their extensive networks to target buyers and get them into their clients' houses. Unless you too are well-connected, getting the word out about your open house can be a challenge. Try these tips:

• Tell relatives, friends, neighbors and colleagues that your home is on the market. Use all methods of communication: phone, email, postcards, etc.
• Tap into your social networks, including schools, churches, community groups and online services like Facebook and Twitter.
• Place a professionally printed "for sale" sign and a flyer holder in your front yard so passersby can pick up a property description sheet.
• Create a Web site to promote your house for sale.
• Advertise online on Craigslist.org, FSBO help sites and your local newspaper and community sites.
• Post flyers on public bulletin boards at grocery stores, gyms and workplaces.
• Include quality interior and exterior photos in all promotional material.
• Post a video tour of your home on a video sharing site like YouTube.
• Advertise in your local Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
• On open house day, place signs at nearby intersections to direct people to your home.

Step 5: Be a gracious host
Normally, buyers are turned off by a seller hanging around the open house, but when you're a FSBO, they expect to work directly with you. The key is to maintain a professional attitude and give them the freedom to see the place on their own. Also:

• If you have pets, consider leaving them with a friend or a boarding house for the day.
• Hide all valuables, medication and other personal items.
• Prepare a sign-in sheet for guests to fill out their name, phone number and email address.
• Greet each guest with a smile, hand them a property sheet and point out the most attractive features of the home.
• Invite guests to tour the home at their leisure and offer to answer any questions they may have.
• Get feedback from each guest, including their level of interest in the home, other homes they've seen and how the home is priced compared to others on the market.
• Offer light refreshments, such as cookies and bottled water.

Step 6: Follow up
The day after the open house, send a "Thank You" email to everyone who attended the open house with a link to your Web site or online ad.

Within the following week, call each person and ask if they have any questions about the house and if they are considering it. If not, thank them and ask if they have any suggestions on how to make the house attractive to other buyers.

 

The last and MOST IMPORTANT Tip of all ... Never hold an OPEN HOUSE ALONE! Always have a buddy with you, Never disclose your work schedule, Please remember, You never know who is at your Open House to "snoop" out your home.

 

 

                                       Jo Ann Deville Smith 318.451.2385

      Licensed in the State of Louisiana Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated