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January 6, 2017November 23, 2021

Greedy home seller tips

Don't be a greedy home seller — Pricing Strategy for a Home Sale (infographic from forsalebyowner.com)

When there is a buzz about home sellers being greedy, you know home sales are doing well. So, not surprisingly, along with last year’s record home sales came the reports of greedy home sellers. Are you a greedy home seller? Or are you adjusting to a market where home prices are increasing?

Greed has developed a bad rap. Surely there is an evolutionary basis for greed. Many believe that early hominids promoted personal and group survival by being “greedy” (although disputed by some). Those who hoarded food, so as to have more than enough, lived through difficult winters and droughts. During times of financial prosperity, greed is looked upon favorably. However, in the aftermath of a recession, greed is thought of as the basis for fiscal calamity. Immortalized in Gordon Geckko’s famous “greed is good” speech in the 1987 movie Wall Street, “greed” is a cinematic vehicle to show the fine line between a healthy desire to prosper and a corrupt drive to have more than enough.

Avoid being viewed as a greedy home seller by creating a realistic pricing strategy. Creating a pricing strategy is an art and a science. When selling a home, you have to determine the list price. There are many factors to consider besides recent neighborhood sales, such as condition of your home, sales trends, mortgage interest rates, economic trends, etc. Like other home sellers, you fall into a conundrum. If you price your home too high, then it will limit potential home buyers who visit. However, if you price your home too low to increase home buyer interest, you may not get the price you want.

Contrary to some assertions that a home’s list price doesn’t play a role in the sale, there is evidence to suggest that it really does matter. Lu Han and William C. Strange determined that a lower list price does increase home buyer visits – but only to a point (What is the Role of the Asking Price for a House? University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management; 2012). They concluded that there is a point at which the home price is perceived to attract too much buyer competition, which may turn off other home buyers. Furthermore, their data shows that there is a negative relationship between a list price and the number of home buyers: meaning that the higher the list price relative to the neighborhood, the lower number of home buyer visits, and vice-versa.

If you fear being a greedy home seller by asking for a high price for your home, there is research to suggest that you’ll let go of the greed in order to make a deal. A 2013 study by Nuno T. Magessi and Luis Antunes looked at how the emotions of fear and greed compete internally (Agent’s fear monitors the spread of greed in a social network; Proceedings of the 11th European Workshop on Multi‐Agent Systems EUMAS, 12-13). They concluded that greed is mitigated by the fear of loss within the confines of a social network. When applied to a home sale, the fear of not selling a home competes with the impulse to hold out for the high price. Deducing further, there is a need to fit within one’s social network by trying to sell a home for the most money, and yet avoid the stigma of a failed home sale.

Don’t be a greedy home seller. RealtorMag described three common home seller mistakes in a 2015 post (3 Mistakes Sellers Often Make; realtormag.realtor.org; April 12, 2015). Included were “Not being honest with the home’s history,” “Not making a better home presentation,” and “Being unrealistic about the home’s value.” About unrealistic home value, it was said:

“…Despite tight inventories of homes for-sale in many markets, sellers still need to be careful not to get too greedy with their list price, say real estate professionals…Home owners tend to get a much lower price when they overprice a home at the onset and then drop the price several times. The longer the home lingers on a market, the more likely it will receive a deeper discount…”

If your home doesn’t sell, you must examine your pricing strategy. Was the price realistic, or were you too greedy?

Original published at https://dankrell.com/blog/2017/01/06/greedy-home-seller/

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Disclaimer. This article is not intended to provide nor should it be relied upon for legal and financial advice. Readers should not rely solely on the information contained herein, as it does not purport to be comprehensive or render specific advice. Readers should consult with an attorney regarding local real estate laws and customs as they vary by state and jurisdiction. Using this article without permission is a violation of copyright laws.

September 3, 2016July 18, 2019

Think resale when home buying

A common question, especially among savvy first time home buyers, is what will the resale value be like when they sell? Of course they are not asking for a specific price, but rather they question if the future home buyer will find the home just as desirable as they do. In other words, think resale when home buying.

That is a good question, since your home is one of the largest investments you’ll ever make; and you want to make sure you’re making a sound investment. Some things to keep in mind when buying a home and keeping an eye to the resale includes: focusing on current desirability; keeping the home complimentary to the neighborhood; considering added value; and not going overboard with updates and upgrades.

Ask yourself what attracted you to the home you’re purchasing and you’ll have a number of items that probably will make it desirable to the future home buyer. Most likely at the top of the list is the location. “Location, location, location” may be cliché, but it holds true. Items such as the home’s accessibility to metro and major commuter routes are important, along with its proximity to neighborhood and local amenities. Other top attractors to the home possibly include the living space and back yard.

Consider the future plans for the area, as it could affect the home’s resale. You can view the master plan for the county and specific localities on the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s website (montgomeryplanning.org). You can decide if the home you’re about to buy will be impacted by some future development or zoning change.

Another resale factor is how the home compares to its neighborhood cohorts. Is the home similar or does it obviously different? Has the current owner modified the existing living space in any way? Have they converted a three-bedroom home into a two-bedroom home; or similarly, added a bedroom by taking space from an existing bedroom or living area? Such modifications can make the home feel cramped and smaller and affect future resale.

Think about how the home seller updated and upgraded the home. Although not all updates add value, many will increase the home’s appeal to buyers. Keep an eye on the kitchen, bathrooms, and flooring, as home buyers typically consider these as high cost upgrades and can affect resale value. Ask the seller if they hired licensed contractors for major renovations and additions. Also, check for appropriate permits, and ask for plans and invoices.

Additionally, do your due diligence when it comes to “green” upgrades. Although the home seller may have considered the investment into green upgrades money saving, they are not always reliable and can be expensive to repair. And it may be all the rage among home owners, solar panels may come with lease payments and/or replacement costs with little or no net savings; so it’s a good idea to ask for associated lease agreements and utility bills, as well as replacement and maintenance costs.

When it comes time for you to sell, don’t go overboard when with updates and upgrades. Contrary to belief, doing too much to the home could have a minimal return on your investment, or even decrease the value. Updates and upgrades should be comparable to similar homes in the price range to maximize return on your investment. Also, steer clear from short lived trendy designs. Experts recommend to focus on function and substance when making upgrades.

By Dan Krell
Copyright © 2016

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July 29, 2016July 12, 2019

Home selling don’ts

When preparing for a home sale, the devil is in the detail. You probably already know about the “do’s,” de-cluttering, curb-appeal, staging, and making necessary repairs. But here are a few home selling “don’ts” that often trap home sellers into making mistakes:

Home selling is not about you. Don’t make a statement. Now is not the time to be bold with renovations and staging; but rather stay focused on getting your home sold. Stay away from trendy features, and bold designs. Although bright and dramatic colors seem tempting, stick with neutral color schemes. Besides making rooms feel awkward, making a statement with trendy fixtures and bold colors may turn off home buyers. Bold style statements make home buyers fixate on the style, rather the space and potential of each room.

Home selling is not about being cheap. Don’t hire a contractor because they are the cheapest. When it comes to home repair, the idiom “you get what you pay for” typically holds true. Home buyers have a discerning eye and can spot poor workmanship. Don’t be tempted to hire the unlicensed handyman to save a few dollars either; you and the future buyers won’t have recourse if there is a problem with the repair. Don’t also be talked into a cheap renovation that is meant to appear as a luxury amenity. Poor workmanship, sloppy installation, and/or inferior materials will turn away many home buyers.

Home selling is not about being amateur. Don’t assume all house painters are alike. A good paint job can make a room look terrific and create positive emotions; while a poor paint job makes a room appear shabby and unstylish. And even though you may be tempted to save a few dollars, don’t paint your home on your own – hire a professional. The amateur paint job appears sloppy and has the telltale uneven edges, painted over light switches and receptacle covers, and painted shut windows.

Home selling is not about guessing. Don’t assume your prepping will bring you a big return on your investment. If you deferred regular maintenance, you may have to make repairs regardless of the return. Likewise, if your home is outdated, you may consider making some updates to lure home buyers. Before getting in too deep on a prepping project, have a budget in mind and do a cost benefit analysis.

Consider checking out this year’s Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report (costvsvalue.com) to find out what updates and renovations make sense and which ones can bring you the biggest returns. Although most renovations won’t bring you a dollar-for-dollar return, they may add to the overall aesthetic and make your home more appealing. However, some renovations may not only lose money but can also blemish your otherwise beautiful home. For example, adding a backup generator may seem as if it is a much needed amenity, however, the report indicated that for the Washington DC region, you would only recoup about 57.5% of the cost. And it is possible that the home buyer will remove it because of it was poorly installed and too noisy.

The purpose of preparing your home before a sale is to not only to compel home buyers to make a top-dollar offer on your home, but to also get it sold quickly. Consider planning out how you will prepare your home. Do the research. Don’t fall into the traps that ensnare many home sellers because it can cost you. You may not only have to correct poor workmanship, but your negotiated sale price may be lower than expected.

By Dan Krell
Copyright © 2016

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June 3, 2016November 23, 2021

Housing bubble countdown

The March S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index (spindices.com) was announced May 31^st to reveal a 5.2% increase in home prices. Although down from last March’s 5.3% increase, home prices seem to be appreciating at a regular pace, with the metro areas of Portland, Seattle, and Denver leading the way with double digit gains (year-over-year price increases of 12.3%, 10.8%, 10.0% respectively). As home prices climb, so too are the claims that we are experiencing a housing bubble.

Those concerned about the next bubble have been ringing the alarm bells since last fall, when the combination of limited inventory, multiple offers, and rising prices created an environment in some regions that was reminiscent of the go-go market just prior to the last market bust. And like the broken watch that is correct twice a day, those naysayers may eventually be correct – but it may not be for another eight years.

How to predict a housing bubble

According to Ted Nicolais, the real estate cycle has been steady since 1800 (How to Use Real Estate Trends to Predict the Next Housing Bubble; dce.harvard.edu; February 20, 2014). Writing for the Harvard University’s Department of Continuing Education’s The Language of Business blog, Nicolais maps out Homer Hoyt’s cycles and found a regular 18-year cycle to the bubble and bust housing market (albeit two exceptions).

The 18-year cycle, as it turns out can be observed by analyzing trends. An applying Henry George’s four phases of the real estate cycle (as modernized by Glenn R. Mueller), Nicolais can determine how and when the next housing bubble will occur. (Henry George was a nineteenth century economist who studied the boom-bust cycle of the economy).

The first phase is the “recovery.” Home prices are at the bottom, and demand increases. Real estate vacancies decrease as economic activity increases, which fuels the economy.

The second phase is the “expansion.” Housing inventories dwindle, there is little is available to buy, and finding a rental becomes difficult. Nicolais explains that an issue with real estate is that once demand increases, filling inventory takes a long time. New development can take two to five years. Until new inventory is added, price growth accelerates; and rather than valued at market conditions, real estate becomes priced to future gains. During a real estate boom, people buy into the prospect of “future growth” and believe the escalating prices are reasonable.

Phase three is “hyper supply.” When the completion of new development begins to satisfy demand, inventories fist stabilizes and then swells. Price growth begins to slow. Nicolais stated that the amount of continued development will determine the severity of the impending recession; while demand is satiated, new inventory comes to market and vacancies increase. He asserted that “wise” developers stop building during this phase.

Phase four is the “recession.” New development is stopped, while projects coming to completion add to a growing inventory. Occupancy rates and prices fall; property values and profits dwindle. Developments in mid-construction may not be completed because they are no longer financially feasible.

Following the four phases and the 18-year cycle; Nicolais stated that the great recession was not caused by external forces, but rather occurred on schedule! He figures that the current housing market is transitioning from recovery to an expansion phase. And with the exception of the occasional slow down, he predicts that the next housing bubble will be in 2024.

Original published at https://dankrell.com/blog/2016/06/03/housing-bubble-countdown/

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April 21, 2016November 23, 2021

Coping with today’s market

It’s that time of year again; the real estate market is getting hot along with the temperature. And that’s about the only thing most are able to predict about this year’s real estate market. Since the Great Recession, early forecasts about home buying and selling trends have typically missed the mark; the trends have varied, sometimes significantly, from year to year. Notwithstanding a very active season, many will be in for a surprise; some will be pleased about their home sale, while others not so much. And if you are selling a home, I’ve provided some tips to help you cope with today’s market:

Home buyers in today’s market

The most important point to remember this year: many home buyers are looking to buy a home, but not necessarily yours. The notion that your home appeals to all home buyers is false. If your home isn’t selling as fast as you thought it would, consider stepping back for a moment to re-evaluate your home and marketing plan.

Most home buyers are looking for a “turn-key” home and won’t settle for just anything on the market. Additionally, most are not willing to spend time and money updating a home they just purchased. Know your home before marketing it and consider making repairs if your home has considerable deferred maintenance.

Prepare your home for today’s market

The next item to remember this year, is that no matter how well your home shows: be prepared for a less than complimentary home inspection. Because there are a number of systems and many components to your home; chances are that there are items that need attention, repairing, and/or replacement – which the home inspector will cheerfully point out. Home inspectors will visually inspect your home, probing structural components when necessary; a detailed report indicates their observations. Most home inspectors are not experts in all aspects of home construction; and commonly recommend other professionals to examine items more closely.

As a home seller, you should understand that buyers in today’s market are under pressure about the investment they are undertaking; and are willing to walk away based on the home inspection findings. Sometimes, it’s not what – but how it’s said that will rattle buyers. Regardless, an uncomplimentary report does not have to blow up the deal. Be prepared for extra rounds of negotiating after the home inspection. Every transaction is different, and your agent should provide guidance on what’s reasonable and appropriate.

A final thought: don’t get greedy, but don’t leave money on the table either. Although inventory remains an issue in a number of areas, don’t feel compelled to over price your home based on the lack of homes for sale. However, don’t be complacent with the “average” home sale price of the neighborhood either. When comparing recent neighborhood sales, you should make pricing adjustments (plus and minus) depending on differences in your home’s age, amenities, size and other factors.

A word of caution: There is a growing trend in the reliance on automated valuations by real estate agents. AVM (automated valuation models) are helpful, but not always accurate. These reports are based on public information about your home and may not include correct information. If your agent recommends a sale price based an automated valuation, you should review the report attentively. If the report confidence level is low to medium, be prepared to carefully review the report and comparables, making adjustments as needed.

Original located at https://dankrell.com/blog/2016/04/21/home-sale-tips-on-coping-with-todays-market/

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