Top 5 Tips for Selling a Home in Marietta

living-in-MariettaMarietta is one of North Atlanta’s most sought-after areas, with excellent schools, a vibrant local community, and a real estate market that is seeing rising listing and sale prices. If you are considering buying or selling Marietta real estate, check out our list of top 5 tips.

Selling a Home in Marietta

Home Remodeling Projects with the Best Return on Investment

If you’re preparing to list your Marietta home for sale, you probably need to do at least some minor remodeling and repairs. But before you start, learn which projects have the best ROI when it comes to sale prices.

Is a Home Sellers Market Returning to Atlanta GA? 

The answer is a resounding yes! The sellers market is here, and high demand is resulting in increased sale prices on Marietta homes.

Do You Have the Right Agent to Sell Your High-End Marietta Home?

There is more high-end home inventory at the moment than there is for mid-level homes, so it’s important to find an experienced Realtor to handle your Marietta home sale.

10 Tips on Making a Good First Impression for Your Home for Sale in Marietta GA

It’s a good time to sell, but you still need to take care when staging your house for sale.

How Should You Handle Multiple Offers When Selling Your Home?

With low inventory, competition is high and it’s likely you could receive multiple offers on your Marietta GA home. Learn what to do if you get multiple offers.

For assistance selling a home in Marietta GA, contact me, Barry Wolfert, Associate Broker at Keller Williams Realty Consultants. As an experienced and professional Realtor, I can help you sell your home quickly, and for a great price. My in-depth knowledge of the Marietta real estate market will guarantee you results, not excuses. 

photo via City of Marietta on Facebook

 

How Should You Handle Multiple Offers When Selling Your Home?

With Atlanta real estate inventory near all time lows, it’s a great time to list your home for sale in Roswell, Marietta, Kennesaw, and other North Atlanta areas due to increasing demand and low interest rates. However, this type of situation also brings a welcome but perplexing problem for many sellers – how should you handle multiple offers on your home?

Prepare to sell

First, even with high demand and low inventory in the local real estate market, it’s important to make sure you are prepared for sale.  Buyers still want a good deal and if your home is not in top condition you’ll miss out out on any offers.  Do the necessary repairs, clean and de-clutter and and make your home attractive to stand out.  These will help increase the number of showings you get, generating more interest and potentially resulting in more offers.

Should you take the first offer on your home?high real estate demand means higher prices

Deciding whether or not to take the first offer can be tricky, which is why it’s important to work with an experienced Realtor. There are a number of factors to consider when dealing with multiple offers, including type of financing the buyer is using, time to close, contingencies as well as price and concessions. The best offer is where everyone wins. Beware of declining an offer that may be slightly lower in price but without any convoluted contingencies or concessions.  In the end, an offer that can close quickly and easily is better than one that offers a higher price but requires a team of attorneys and accountants to decipher.

Don’t try to play buyers

You need to be careful not to play buyers off each other. It’s OK to ask for “highest and best” when several parties are interested. However, if you try to play them by delaying one decision until you get another deal or by dodging questions, real estate agents will not want to show your house. Trust your Realtor to negotiate on your behalf. A real estate professional has much more experience in negotiating and in the overall home sale process, so use their experience and knowledge to your advantage.

If you are selling a home in Roswell, Kennesaw, Smyrna, or elsewhere in North Atlanta, contact me, Barry Wolfert Associate Broker at Keller Williams Realty Consultants, today. As an experienced real estate professional, I have the market knowledge and know how to help you navigate multiple offers and sell your home for the most money in the least time.

 

Image courtesy ddpavumba via FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Home Remodeling Projects with the Best Return on Investment

kitchen remodels yield high ROINow is a great time to sell real estate in Georgia. Low inventory levels are creating a seller’s market, but that doesn’t mean you can just put your home on the market as-is and make a quick sale. In order to get the most value for your Marietta, Roswell, or Kennesaw real estate, it’s wise to do some strategic home improvement projects.

The key word is strategic, because home improvement projects vary greatly in their ROI, or return on investment. In order to make selling your home worthwhile, you need to focus on the remodeling that will provide you the best return on investment.

Factors That Influence Remodeling ROI

Home Realtors anywhere can tell you that remodeling ROI can be influenced by a number of factors, including:

  • local real estate values in the neighborhood and the city at large
  • the current market value of the home and the amount of equity in the home
  • how in-demand the upgrades are to your target buyers
  • the quality of the remodeling project
  • how quickly the home is sold after making improvements

Let’s take a look at the home improvement projects that home Realtors say have the best return on investment.

High ROI Remodeling Projects

bathroom remodels provide high ROI

These features can help sell your home, but only if the house is otherwise in great condition. For instance, don’t worry about the kitchen remodel until you fix the leaky roof and ramshackle deck.

  • Attic bedrooms- Add usable square footage. Though expensive, they are much sought after by home buyers.
  • Kitchen remodels- Having an attractive, updated kitchen is a must, just don’t go overboard and price your home out of the neighborhood.
  • Master bath- A well-designed master bath can result in a 62% return, but only if it contains features like double sinks and custom, spa-inspired showers.
For more tips and information on selling your home, contact me, Barry Wolfert, Associate Broker at Keller Williams Realty Consultants. As an experienced and professional Realtor, I can help you sell your home in Marietta, Roswell, or Kennesaw quickly, and for a great price. My in-depth knowledge of the real estate market in north Atlanta will guarantee you results, not excuses.

Perfect Property Pricing Sells Your Atlanta Home Faster

Perfect property pricing is one of the most important strategies you can undertake to ensure greater success in selling your Atlanta home. The type of buyer you attract and the length of time your home is on the market is directly correlated to your price. Studies have shown that pricing impacts the following:

  • How buyers feel about your home
  • How many showings you have
  • The quickness of your sale
  • More lucrative outcome

Some home owners decide to under-price their homes in the hopes encouraging more bidding. While a reduced price is better than being overpriced in terms of selling your home, this is not always necessary. Speak to your Realtor to establish where your selling price needs to during the current market. Overpricing your home has a few psychological pitfalls.

  1. Home buyers tend to be knowledgeable about the general and will have a good idea about the market value of your home. If you have a right-priced home, you can hold out for the right buyer without the possibility of generating the mistrust that can occur if you overprice your home.
  2. You will inadvertently become the example of what an overpriced home is as Realtors compare your home to others that are reasonably priced. You will be helping your competition and harming yourself.
  3. Overpricing a home can drain a homeowner with every decision to drop the price as the property languishes on the market. The longer a home sits on the market, the more often the seller has to vacate the home for open houses. Also, the constant feeling of being on show instead of relaxing in your own home can be tiring.

Since pricing can determine the length of time your house is on the market and your ultimate profit, it’s best to follow the pricing advice that Barry Wolfert will provide you as your Realtor. Get your property sold by being properly priced for the current market so that you can be happily living in your next home.

For more tips and information on selling your home, contact me, Barry Wolfert, Associate Broker at Keller Williams Realty Consultants. As an experienced and professional Realtor, I can help you sell your home for the most money and in the shortest period of time.  My in-depth knowledge of the real estate market in north Atlanta will guarantee you results, not excuses.

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5 Simple Tips for Quick Ways to Improve Curb Appeal to Help You Sell Your House in Marietta GA

If you are planning to put your house on the market in Marietta, GA, you would like it to sell as quickly as possible while getting your asking price. You will increase the likelihood of this happening if you can get a home buyer to perceive your house as their next home. To get the results you are looking for, you need to follow a few simple strategies for success.

1) Pay attention to your landscaping. Keep all the bushes and trees trimmed. Make sure that the front windows remain unobstructed.  Freshen up the pine straw or briquettes and use an edge trimmer when you cut the lawn. These little details will made your landscaping look sharp.

2) Pressure-wash the driveway and entry. Dirt accumulates on these surfaces and makes them look dull. After a good pressure-was, your entrance and driveway will look brighter and more inviting.

3) Add some color with plants at your mailbox and entry. A little investment in color plants goes a long way to maximize curb appeal.  Use planters at the front door to brighten up this area.

4) Make the front door look more appealing. With a fresh coat of paint, your front door will attract buyers. If you have a screen door or a storm door, make sure the screen is not torn and clean the glass.  You can also add a new knocker or kick plate on your front door just to give it that extra finishing touch.

5) Have a fresh-looking welcome mat. A home buyer will notice if the mat is worn. If you do not have a new one, remove it and put one inside.

With these tips on increasing your curb appeal, you will give the buyer the impression that you care about your home. This will make them feel comfortable as they will sense that you have taken pride in caring for the entire house.

For more tips and information on selling your home, contact me, Barry Wolfert, Associate Broker at Keller Williams Realty Consultants. As an experienced and professional Realtor, I can help you sell your home for the most money and in the shortest period of time.  My in-depth knowledge of the real estate market in north Atlanta will guarantee you results, not excuses.

10 Tips for Making A Good First Impression For Your Home For Sale in Marietta GA

Here are ten simple things to do that will make a big difference in how a buyer perceives your Marietta home for sale, and whether they decide to keep driving or stop and see it.

1)  Light bulbs – Make sure all of them work!  Next, replace energy savers with clear glass regular bulbs.  You want clean, bright light.  If you have fluorescent lights, make sure they are all working andpremier-window-boxes turn on at the same time.   Bright light creates space.  Shadows and darkness close down space.

2) Screens off – Remove all window screens from the front and visible sides of your house.  In my opinion, screens are the equivalent of putting braces on your teeth.  You may have a great smile but you’re going to be distracted by the braces.  Needless to say, clean your windows once you’ve removed the screens

3) Trim bushes – Landscaping should be neat and trimmed.  Nothing should cover any of the front windows of your home.  Replace briquettes or pine straw as needed and watch the weeds.

4) Power wash drive and walk way – It’s amazing how much dirt accumulates on these areas.  A good power wash will make your entrance more appealing.

5) Plant flowers at mailbox and entry – Add some color to maximize curb appeal.  As I approach a house for a showing, I always notice whether it has a bright and colorful appeal or if it is the typical green grass and red brick.  Add some color (yellow, white and red almost always work) especially at the mailbox which is typically at the front of the driveway. Use planters at the front door to brighten up this area.

6) Clean screen/paint front door – If you have a screen or storm door, make sure the glass is clean and/or the screen is not torn or ripped.  For your front door, a fresh coat of paint plus a new knocker and/or kick plate will draw people into the house.

7) Wash entry lights – While most showings are done during daylight hours, one thing I always notice is if the front entry lights are clean and straight.  Since most sellers enter and leave through their garage, they forget about these lights.  Replace them if needed but many times all they need is a wash and new bulbs.

8) Paint stair rail or porch – Again, with most sellers using their garage as their exit/entry portal, they often forget to look at
the house from a guest’s perspective.  If your rails are rusted or just worn from the sun, put a fresh coat of paint of them.  If
you have a porch, the same goes here.  Make sure the paint is in good condition.

9) Cut  and edge the lawn – This one seems like a given but you need to keep your lawn mowed (weekly in season) and
edging will make it look sharp.  Also, don’t forget to edge the beds and islands if you have them.

10) Replace or remove worn welcome mat – Again, remember how buyers are approaching the house.  If everything else
looks good but you have a worn out welcome mat, it can negate all the work.  Either replace the mat or remove it and put
one inside.

These simple tips will show you care about the house and want to make a good first impression.  Buyers will be more likely to feel that you have also taken care of the rest of the house if they are impressed as they walk up.

For more Marietta real estate tips and information on selling your home, click here or contact me, Barry Wolfert, an Associate Broker at Keller Williams Realty Consultants. You need an experienced and professional Realtor, and I can help you sell your home quickly, and for a great price. My in-depth knowledge of the Marietta real estate market will guarantee you results, not excuses. 

Make A Good First Impression When Listing Your Marietta GA Home For Sale

When selling a home, there are so many factors that are out of your control: the economy, supply and demand, mortgage rates, quality of school district, etc.  So, if you’re thinking about selling your Marietta, GA home, you should make sure that the things you can control are working for you.

Selling a home is all about marketing.  Yes, there are other factors but if no one knows your home is for sale then it really doesn’t matter how good it looks or is priced.  The #1 marketing tool all agents have is the MLS.  Because the majority of buyers have agents (over 80% according to NAR), the most important place to have accurate and correct information is in the local MLS.  Unfortunately, many agents don’t know how the MLS works and even fewer know how to use it to it’s maximum.

Here is one tip and example of a good agent and brokerage missing the boat for their client.  First, the example, then the explanation. [Read more...]

Top Home Improvement Projects Based on Cost and ROI

In today’s competitive home seller’s market, it is critical to make sure your home is in top showing condition.  Sometimes small things add up to make a huge impact.  HomeGain.com announced that it has released the results of its nationwide home improvement and home staging survey.

HomeGain’s recent survey shows the top do-it-yourself home improvements that Realtors recommend to home sellers. HomeGain received responses from nearly 1,000 Realtors nationwide and configured a list of the top 12 do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvements that cost under $5,000 and benefit sellers most when they sell their homes.

[Read more...]

Attention Home Sellers: Use This Staging Technique To Neutralize Personal Photos

In today’s competitive housing market, making your home for sale standout is critical.  Every home has it’s own set of features and challenges.  Some of these challenges can not be overcome directly (size of rooms, lot location, school district) while others require just a little bit of creativity and perspective.

As a buyer’s and listing agent, I am constantly reading other real estate blogs and websites looking for new ways to make my client’s experience better.  I cam across a blog post by a stage who suggested a creative way to remove the distraction of family photos without necessarily having to strip the walls bare. Staging a home is so important because you need to accentuate the positive features of your home and minimize any distractions that might cause the buyer to move on. [Read more...]

Real Estate Capital Gains On The Sale Of Your Home

This is a topic I find that many homeowners are confused about.  The law changed in 1997 but many people remember the old law that had a lot of limitations on when you could be exempt from capital gains.   The “new” law, The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, allows for an exclusion of up to $250,000 in profit if you are single and $500,000 if married. In order to be eligible you must have lived in your home for two of the last five years. Again it must be your personal residence and can not be an investment property.

[Read more...]