Why Didn’t My House Sell?

There is nothing more frustrating for a seller than to watch houses around them sell like hot cakes while theirs lingers on the market. Finally, when the listing expires, they find themselves asking why? Why didn’t my house sell? In a robust housing market like we’ve had the past few years, the good news is there are some common reasons why a home doesn’t sell. If you find yourself in this position, ask yourself these questions, and then correct them and relist them. · 

Did You Stage Your Home? We’re not talking about expensive services that bring in all new furniture here, but you do need to make your home attractive. The basic “curb appeal” rule still applies, even in a “sellers’ market.” · 

Did You Limit Access? When homes are moving quickly, it’s tempting to assume every home will get multiple offers. But buyers still want to view the home before making that offer, if your home is difficult to see, you will lose potential buyers. · 

Did You Price Your Home Correctly? Setting the right price is always important. Even when prices are rising, an unrealistically high listing price will cause buyers and their agents to ignore the home. · 

Did You Hire The Right Agent? Sometimes, it really is the agent’s fault. The right agent will properly market the home, communicate frequently, offer advice about price/offers, and make themselves available. They should be giving feedback throughout the process about adjustments to ensure that the home is seen and is appealing to potential buyers. 

If you answered “no” to these questions, then relisting may be a great option. Make the changes you need to, and then relist the property. This time, you may not need to ask yourself, “why didn’t my home sell”?

Warm Up Your Rooms this Fall with a Ventless Fireplace

When it comes to making a room feel warm and inviting, nothing compares to the charm of a fireplace. The problem is not every room has the proper construction necessary to add a traditional wood-burning or gas fireplace. This is where a ventless fireplace can step in, creating that cozy atmosphere we crave without the hassle of major construction. 

Ventless fireplaces, also known as vent-free or unvented fireplaces, are gaining popularity for their versatility and ease of use. These fireplaces burn cleanly and require no chimney or venting system, which means they can be placed anywhere in the house. 

Ventless fireplaces come in a variety of styles ranging from traditional to modern, and all give off some level of heat, so it’s important to choose the right location. A fireplace located in a small room may offer a pleasant visual effect but provide more heat than desired. On the other hand, these clean-burning systems offer reliable, eco-friendly warmth during the colder months of fall and winter, while providing a cozy ambiance. 

Installation of these fireplaces are simple as well. Most can be ordered through the mail and set up with a few small steps and a wall plug. This makes adding a fireplace to a den or game room a weekend DIY project for most people. One more advantage, because these fireplaces require no change to the construction of the room, most renters can take advantage of this design feature as well. 

As sweater weather approaches and we move inside, it’s natural to look at ways to add warmth to our rooms. A ventless fireplace can be a great way to change the entire feel of any room and add eco-friendly heat and charm.

Prepare Your Home for FHA Financing

When listing your home for sale, the most important consideration is how to get the most attention from potential buyers. It’s simple, the more buyers interested in your home the better. You have already considered how to build curb appeal and staging the home for marketing and home visits, but have you prepared your home for buyers who may wish to use FHA financing? 

Often, first time homebuyers take advantage of the great benefits of FHA financing, such as lower down payment requirements and easier qualifying. But it’s not just the borrower that has to qualify for FHA financing, the home does also. In order to appraise for FHA financing, the home must be livable and safe. A special appraiser will not only ensure the purchase price is comparable to other properties, but also verify the condition of the home. 

Here are some key aspects: 

· Safety and Security – There must not be any hazards in the home. Everything from faulty wiring to loose carpet can be considered a safety issue. 

· Structural Integrity – The inspector will look for cracks in the walls or sags in the floor that could indicate an issue. 

· Health and Sanitation – All systems must be in good working order, such as: plumbing, heating, cooling, etc. 

· Water and Sewer Systems – The home must have safe drinking water and the sewer and waste systems must be clear from any blockage or malfunctions. 

· Pests – FHA financing will include a clear pest inspection. This means a termite inspection as well as being free from rodents and other damaging pests. 

As a seller, knowing what kinds of issues could disqualify an FHA loan makes your home attractive to a larger selection of potential buyers. Ensure these issues are corrected before listing which allows you to list as an FHA property

How to Respond to a Lowball Offer

After all the hard work it takes to ready a home for sale, it can be so discouraging to find the first offer you get is a lowball offer. Regardless of the market, there are buyers who write offers 10%, 20%, even 30% below list price. While most of these offers are just “throw-aways,” it’s still possible to turn it into a successful sale. 

Before you do anything, take a deep breath and stay calm. There are many reasons why a buyer throws out a low offer. It could be they are getting bad advice from a family member or nervous first-time buyers afraid of leaving money on the table. It’s also possible that they are working with a new or poor real estate agent. The one thing you know is that they were interested enough in your home to write an offer, and they expect to negotiate. 

The next step is to send a counteroffer. Be respectful and thank them for the offer. If you do have room to negotiate, then offer to reduce your price to a reasonable level. If you have priced the home well to start with, then explain how you arrived at the list price and present any available comps. 

Remember to look at the other terms offered and be flexible where you can. For example, they may have asked for a longer escrow period, and you can accommodate their timetable. You may also want to ask that the home inspection is “information only” that removes the option of repairs. 

A lowball offer may take the wind out of your sails, but it doesn’t mean that there is no opportunity for moving forward. Working with your agent, send a reasonable counter offer back to the buyer and you may find that there is still a successful sale down the road.

Small Design Changes that Have Big Impact

With the change of seasons, attention turns from the backyard to our indoor spaces. With the cooler months ahead and more time spent indoors, who wouldn’t love a quick living space refresh? Fortunately, you don’t need to completely revamp everything to have a new look. Small changes can have a big impact as well.

Paint is one of the easiest ways to change the look of any space. Paint fads quickly and designers recommend repainting every 5-7 years. This is an opportunity to use new colors. Dark and warm to create a cozy, relaxing space or go bright and bold to add energy or inspiration. If a larger project is too daunting, then adding a single accent wall provides drama and interest.

Look at updating lighting and other fixtures. It’s surprising how quickly a lamp can change the tone of a room. Don’t be afraid of mixing traditional furniture styles with modern fixtures. Use lighting in a new way. Highlight a special picture or piece of art. Light a dark corner or use variable light bulbs to provide flexibility in intensity.

Another great tip is to hit the local farmer’s markets and fairs. Style does not need to come from the chain stores or design magazines. Add some eclectic pillows, candles, baskets, or anything else that interests you. Personal style is just that – personal. With fall on the horizon, spruce up your living spaces with a few small changes.

7 Tips to Creating an Amazing Gallery Wall

A gallery wall is a quick and easy way to add visual impact to any room.  Adding art and photography to a wall showcases your personality, interests, and style. Merging art with interesting articles, a gallery wall instantly adds depth to a living room or other space. Set against a strong color, the impact is even greater, and the time commitment is minimal, making it a great weekend or evening project.

7 Tips to Creating a Visual Delight

1. Plan and Visualize – One great tip is to use paper cut outs to plan the wall before committing and make sure you have the right tools, such as nails, hangers, Command® strips, leveler, screws, hammer, etc.

2. Choose a Theme or Concept – Create a cohesive, intentional look by working with a concept. This can be the style of art, color palette, or

subject matter.

3. Mix and Match – Combine various sizes and mediums for visual interest. Mix paintings with three-dimensional objects like mirrors, plates, or masks. Pay attention to balance so the result is eclectic and not cluttered.

4. Watch the Framing – Frames and matting adds texture and boundary. Affordable options are available in standard sizes and colors in home improvement stores.

5. Play with Layout – Don’t worry about lining up every frame in a grid. Space frames and objects so that they stand out and are displayed to their best advantage.

6. Find a Focal Point – Starting in the middle of the wall, highlight a special piece and work out from there.

7. Add Lighting – Proper lighting is important. Use to highlight a special picture or use track lighting for a subtle glow.

A gallery wall is a great expression of your personality and can be changed quickly. You probably already have the art necessary to make this change today. Don’t overthink the plan and create your visual delight this weekend

Buyer’s “Love Letters” – Should You Read Them When Selling Your Home?

Selling a home can be an emotional experience. As the seller, you want to make sure that the buyer loves the home as much as you do and will take care of it. In other words, you’re looking for the perfect buyer with the perfect offer. Home buyers understand this, and in the recent seller’s market, some buyers have written heartfelt letters to the sellers about how much they love the home, hoping it will tip the scales in their direction. But as a seller, making decisions based on these “love letters” could cause problems, leaving us with the question, “should you read them?” 

Buyer love letters can provide valuable information to the seller. With properties receiving multiple offers, it can be difficult to choose the best one. By reading these love letters, you get a sense of the buyer and their connection to the home. A well written letter can ease the concern that a buyer will change their mind and can occasionally overcome a slightly lower offer. 

However, simply reading the letter can introduce bias into the decision-making process and cause serious issues. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on factors such as race, religion, or family status. If a love letter reveals personal information that falls into any of these categories, just knowing the information may open up the seller to potential issues. 

It’s natural to want your home to go to a “nice family” who will love the property as much as you do. It’s just as natural to want to ensure the new owner will fit into the neighborhood. Yet, it’s just this goal that might also cause headaches. So, if you do choose to read the letters, focus on the practical and financial aspects of the story and make the best choice for you and your goals.

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