You are currently browsing the archives for the Showings category.

Hey – It’s July Out There.

July 15th, 2010

Greetings,

Thankfully we have finally been getting some rain!  Hopefully everyone enjoyed their 4th and is staying cool.

As usual I did the comparison between last years sales to this years sales and I must say- I’m excited. For the first time, not only are the units sold up, but also the average sales price is up and so is volume. You may remember over the past 4 months units sold have been up, but average sales prices have been down and in some cases- total dollar volume was down.

This month- everything is up! And as far as I’m concerned- that’s a very good barometer of our LOCAL real estate market. The real test will be if all the categories stay up for the month of July.

SOLD in June ’09-Total units-218, Average price $254,690, DOM-129, Volume-$55,522,424

SOLD in June ’10-Total units-264, Average price $264,209, DOM 141, Volume-$69,751,092

This is almost a 20% increase in units sold & Volume! We are constantly asked if we have gotten as low as we’re going to go. I have felt that was the case for the past 4 months. I’d say these figures, with the caveat that July remains in an upward mode, indicate my optimism is justified and we have seen what many would call, the bottom.

There are, however, still a limited number of buyers, so while these are encouraging figures, we need to not get discouraged that there are so few showing. Quite frankly June was not a good month in terms of number of showings, nor was the first part of July. That’s not unusual with school graduation, and family vacations. But this past week we have seen an increase in showings. Again, another good sign

http://rismedia.com/homeownercentral/

This link is sponsored by Lowes and I thought you might find it interesting. It has all different ideas and perspective on home ownership and the real estate market…not just about spending money at Lowes!

We’d like to introduce our newest broker, Ruthann Hoffman. She has been a Realtor since 2005 and lives in Fletcher. Her past careers include nursing and teaching and she is currently working towards a certification in Healing Touch. She is an Accredited Buyers Representative, ABR. Be sure to check out our website to learn more about Ruthann. Also, her daughter & son-in-law own The Underground Baking Co. on Main Street in Hendersonville and if you find yourself down there….you will definitely want to buy a loaf of their bread!

Please let us know if you have any concerns or would like to meet with us in person. Our doors are always open and we are very much aware of how frustrating this market is…we’re here to help.

Take care

Suzanne, Susan, Colleen, Ruthann – The ladies of A4SR

Posted in Asheville, Buyers, Selling, Showings, Uncategorized | No Comments »

3 Easy Questions for Stagers

April 15th, 2010

As you may know staging is a practice of reducing the amount of “you or your family” in your current home – to assist potential buyers in seeing themselves as the new owners of the house.  A staged home makes a great impression on a buyer,  and as a buyer, it is much harder to picture themselves playing with the kids, creating memories when all they can see is other people’s memories and clutter.

So if you are getting ready to sell your home – you probably already know that it is a very competitive market out there right now.  However there are things you can do to help yourselves is stage your home.

But if you don’t know what exactly to do – or how to do it – or even who to call?  These are serious questions.

So, while the idea of staging is not that new within the industry or even all that revolutionary, it is still relatively new to the general population, as a whole.  In fact it has created such a buzz with buyers and sellers – that staging businesses have opened and staging certification classes are now offered to agents and the general public.    So if you decide to hire someone to help in the process here are 3 easy questions to help you locate a qualified competent  staging professional.

1.  Can you see a portfolio of the their work?

Questions asked over the phone don’t speak the volumes that photos do.  These pictures can provide some insight into how they work and what their style is.

2.  What is your training and background?

The staging industry is mostly unregulated so it is important to find out what if any staging training these individuals have.  What do their certifications mean?  Have they staged homes in your price range, do they understand the market conditions and what it will take to get your home sold?

3.  Do you have a speciality?

Some stagers work in a particular aspect of the market: lofts, condos, starter homes, luxury etc.  Make sure that they have the experience to work with your home and it’s needs.  Think proportionally, as well.  If stagers usually work with large and spacious homes their furnishings may be too big for your smaller urban condo.

These 3 easy questions will help you narrow the herd of potential stagers.  Also remember that you real estate agent can be a resource and help you with finding a stager as well.  Asheville 4 Seasons Realty even has agents that are certified as stagers so they can help in the evaluation process.  With that being said, we hope that your pending house sale is a quick and profitable one.

A4SR


Posted in Asheville, Showings, Staging | No Comments »

Home Maintenance = Value

March 19th, 2010

If you think home maintenance is an unavoidable series of weekend-eating chores, remember the age-old advice of Benjamin Franklin: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The simple fact is, regular proactive maintenance is essential to preserving the value of your home—without it, your home and asset and equity could lose 10% of its value. Regular maintenance enhances curb appeal, ensures safety, and prevents neglected upkeep from turning into costly major repairs.

It’s the little things that tend to trip us up, some cracked caulk around the windows, or maybe a furnace filter that hasn’t been changed in awhile. It may not seem like much, but behind that caulk, water could get into you sheathing, causing mold and rot. Before you know it, you’re looking at a $5,000 repair that could have been prevented by a $4 tube of caulk and a half hour of your time.

Maintenance affects property value

Outright damage to your house is just one of the consequences of neglected maintenance. Without regular upkeep, overall property values are affected. If a house is in worn condition and shows a lack of preventative maintenance, the property could easily lose 10% of its appraised value, That could translate into a $15,000 or $20,000 adjustment

In addition, a house with chipped,sagging gutters, fading paint, and worn carpeting faces an uphill battle when it comes time to sell (is these times that is an impression a home does not want to make). Not only is it at a disadvantage in comparison with other similar homes that might be for sale in the neighborhood, but a shaggy appearance is bound to turn off prospective buyers and depress the selling price.

How much does maintenance cost?

How much money is required for annual maintenance varies. Some years, routine tasks, such as cleaning gutters and changing furnace filters, are all that’s needed, and your total expenditures may be a few hundred dollars. Other years may include major replacements, such as a new roof, at a cost of $10,000 or more.

Proactive maintenance strategies

  • Play offense, not defense Proactive maintenance is key to preventing small problems from becoming big issues. Take the initiative with regular inspections. Create and faithfully follow a maintenance schedule. If you’re unsure of what needs to be done, a $200 to $300 visit from a professional inspector can be invaluable in pointing out quick fixes and potential problems
  • Plan a room-per-year redo. “Pick a different room every year and go through it, fixing and improving as you go,” says McLane. “That helps keep maintenance fun and interesting.”
  • Keep track. Keep a notebook of all your maintenance and upgrades, along with receipts, it is a powerful tool when it comes to sell your home.  It gets rid of any doubts for the buyer, and it says you are a meticulous, caring homeowner.  A maintenance record also proves repairs and replacements for systems, such as wiring and plumbing, which might not be readily apparent.

So basically what we are saying is - GET OFF THE COUCH….. and do something to help yourself and your home.  It will only benefit you in the long run.  There are many sites on net that provide detailed how to’s if you don’t know how to.  Additionally there are manuals and guides at the local library or home improvement stores that can point you in the right direction and get you started.  Good Luck.

A4SR

Posted in Real Estate, Showings, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Some Do’s and Don’ts

February 25th, 2010

Some Do’s and Don’ts -

 You probably want to make sure that you have successful showings.  Successful showings turn into proposals and contract offers.  So here are some showing do’s

  • Clean the home from top to bottom
  • Mow the lawn
  • Send pets to the neighbors
  • Keep things organized and clutter free

These simple tips will go along way with perspective buyers….and now some showing don’ts

  • Leave valuables out and on display.
  • Leave pcitures and personal effects out.
  • Clutter in the closets – buyers will look just about anywhere.
  • allow pets fur or smell to permeate the house and turn off buyers.  (Have a vacuum? Use it and neutralize any pet odors.)

These are just a few tips for successful showings….GOOD LUCK

A4SR

Posted in Asheville, Real Estate, Showings | No Comments »


2 Sulphur Springs Road
Asheville, NC 28806
Office: 828-225-6911
Toll-free: 877-303-6911
Fax: 828-225-6922
info@asheville4seasonsrealty.com