Here are a few reasons and remedies…

1. House is overpriced…you need a new market analysis to see how much to lower the price
2. Price reductions too little, too late…you need a new market analysis & significantly lower the price below the next price break or two
3. New competition since property listed…you need a new market analysis and lower the price and offer incentives
4. Builder competition…new market analysis, offer upgrades competitive with the builder
5. Difficult to show, not readily accessible…use lockbox and readjust showing hours if necessary
6. Glutted or slow market…adjust pricing and offer incentives
7. Property has become shopworn…add new photos, offer incentive, inform area Realtors
8. Many showings, but no offers…reduce price
9. Offers forthcoming but not consummated…re-examine counter offers and adjust to offers
10. Condition (maintenance problems)…freshen up and review ways to improve
11. Condition (major problems)…rehab as necessary with new carpet, paint, etc.
12. Cosmetic allowances have not enticed offer…rehab as necessary and remove allowance
13. Location not desirable…compensate with price adjustment
14. Property showcased poorly…hire staging professional or ask Realtor for suggestions
15. Property not being shown…make property more accessible with lockbox
16. Pets (odors, soil, intimidation)…deodorize carpet, cage pets when not home, kennel pets or put with a friend or relative until home sells
17. Neighbors or neighborhood undesirable…counsel with neighbors regarding interference and condition of their properties
18. External influence (new highways, etc.)…adjust price, gather accurate data, and prepare fact sheets for people interested in the home

This information is also available on TexasRealEstate.com website where it was first published for Realtor use.

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The right landscape design can make all the difference to a prospective buyer, especially when it’s beautifully and carefully executed. In fact, Realtors and landscape professionals estimate that a well-landscaped yard can add 5% to 15% to the selling value of a house. Houses that look good from the road carry higher price tags – a fact that turns landscape investments into money in the bank when selling a house. Here are a few ideas on how to improve your landscape:

TREES
• One of the best investments you can make is a glorious stand of healthy trees as part of a well-landscaped yard. Realtors across Texas and the rest of the country know that healthy trees can increase the property value of a home, as well as provide years of aesthetic benefits to owners. Trees also cut down on energy costs. When Kiplinger published the 25 best ways to invest $1,000, buying a big tree was at the top of the list. If your selling timetable doesn’t allow for planting and nurturing a tree to maturity, remember this advice for your next home.
• Since a tree is a long-term investment, it’s important to start with a high-quality plant. In the case of trees, money definitely buyer quality. Trees that are 8-10 feet tall-either balled or wrapped in burlap or established and growing in containers-are usually the best buy. Homeowners can expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $1,000 for a quality tree.

PLANTS
• Add a few plants around the foundation of the house and in “curb appeal” areas such as near the front door. Or, consider using more permanent bushes, especially those that flower in the summer and have colorful buds in the winter.
• Gardeners on a budget can buy a few plants, then, add more as your budget allows.
• For an especially inexpensive jolt for your yard, flowers are a homeowner’s best friend. Bright splashes of color add visual appea. Though they’re usually temporary. For this reason, they’re great if you suddenly need to put your house on the market and need a quick landscaping fix. At that point, it’s best to stick to the basics, leaving more costly and permanent landscaping to the new owners.

Copyright 2004 Texas Association of Realtors. All rights reserved.

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1. Make sure your entranceway says “Hey, look at me!”
2. Prune dead limbs from trees
3. Paint (or touch up) exterior, and repair screens and windows
4. Clean your windows
5. Check A/C and heating systems
6. Fix leaky faucets, toilets, and faulty lights
7. Vacuum drapes and carpets
8. Repair wall cracks, re-caulk bathrooms and kitchen
9. Clear out closets
10. Remove excess furniture
11. Keep cats and dogs out of visitors’ way
12. Mow lawn, edge driveway and walkways
13. Ensure windows, doors, and locks work smoothly
14. Weed flower beds and trim shrubs
15. Throw out junk from garage and storage areas
16. Clean lawn furniture
17. If you have a pool, make it crystal clear!

Copyright 2004 by the Texas Association of Realtors. All Rights Reserved.

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Below are a few helpful tips for selling your home and how to make it more attractive to a potential buyer;
Reduce Clutter
• Clean out closets, pick up clutter, and pare down what’s inside. That does for those treasured family phtos and mementos, too. The reason? Besides adding a spacious feel to the home, pared-down surroundings can help potential buyers better envision themselves and their family photos in the house.
• Pack away items and special collections usually displayed in cabinets and hutches, and move a few peives of furniture out of the house. This will help buyers to better see where their furniture might go in the house.
• Don’t forget to keep the house clean every minute it’s on the market. This takes great effort, but the buyer may need to see it in the next five minutes, and you’ll need to be prepared.
Tone down your creativity
• So, you like your house to “say something” about your personality. Well, it’s time to tone it down. Go buy some plain-vanilla paint to cover those red-and-purple walls in your boudoir-it’ll make a difference when you’re trying to sell your home. Many uyers can’t see your Picasso genius (and just can’t get past the splatter-paint wall in the living room) to visualize colors they’re more comfortable with.
• If you’ve got an Italian fresco on a living room wall that stops people in their tracks, they may lose sight of the rest of the home’s wonderful features. If you’re resistant to do anything about it, ask someone you trust to give you an independent view of your home. Better uet, ask your Realtor or an appraiser if the house looks cluttered or if any colors are too bright. Some may see bright colors as gaudy. Listen to their answers and take their advice.
By “paring down,” organizing, and carefully sorting your possessions, you’re ensuring that your home will appeal to the greatest number of potential buyers. Remember to remove about half of the items stored in closets and cabinets and toss or give away things you odn’t use. Not only will de-cluttering and cleaning help you sell your house quickly, you’ll be ahead of the game when it comes to packing up and moving to your new location.

Copyright 2004 by the Texas Association of Realtors. All rights reserved.

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1.  Get estimates from a reliable repair person on items that need to be replaced soon, such as a roof or worn carpeting, for example.  In this way, buyers will have a better sense of how much these needed repairs will affect their costs.

2.  Have a termite inspection to prove to buyers that the property is not infested.

3.  Get a pre-sale home inspection so you’ll be able to make repairs before buyers become concerned and cancel a contract.

4.  Gather together warranties and guarantees on teh furnace, appliances, and other items that will remain with the house.

5.  Fill out a disclosure form provided by your sales associate.  Take the time to be sure that you don’t forget problems, however minor, that might create liability for you after the sale.

Reprinted from REALTOR Magazine Online by permission of the National Association of REALTORS.  Copyright 2005.  All right reserved.

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