Category Archives: Home Selling

Austin City Limits Music Festival sells Austin to future homeowners

Posted on by

The Austin City Limits Music Festival is an event for all of Austin, not just music lovers. Now in its nineth year, it has been reported that ACL will generate over $80 million for the city, of which $51 million will come from visitors.  Austin will host an average of 65,000 guests per day, most if not all; will be visiting Zilker Park where the event is held.  Those visitors will be staying in hotels, dining out, shopping and going to nightclubs, taking in everything Austin has to offer.

Real Estate sales are always interesting this weekend.  People often get sold on Austin this weekend, which generates home sales in the future when visitors ultimately decide to call it home.  Serious buyers will take a break from the music and will be shopping, simply because time is of the essence.  The Barton Hills, Zilker, SoCo, City of West Lake Hills and downtown, Austin areas will take center stage in terms of real estate, as visitors drive around exploring the shops and eateries thinking about what it would be like to actually live in the area, as they pass a house for sale.

Will it be a big open house weekend?  No.  Again, this is a weekend for serious buyers, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t a big real estate weekend.  The Austin City Limits Music Festival helps sell Austin to future buyers, who will decide to stop visiting and one day call it home.

Keeping Reality and Real Estate ‘Real’

Posted on by

HGTV is powerful.  I cannot even begin to tell you how many homeowners I speak to who got an idea to attempt a do-it-yourself project as a result of watching a home makeover show.  If you are chuckling on the inside, it may be because you are one of them.  I use the word ‘attempt’, because while these shows inspire and educate, they also tend to make projects seem simpler than they are.  Remember, it’s an 8 hour project shown in a half and hour.  These shows have the power to edit and often have a team completing the handiwork behind the scenes. It’s a reality show, just like any other.

I laugh on the inside and try not to show my angst on the outside when I go on a listing appointment with those who lost their drive on a remodel.  The results range from unfinished faux painted walls, tile put in place that was never grouted and crown molding that doesn’t completely go around the ceiling.  All of these unfinished projects are going to affect the sales price of your home.  It is easier to sell a dated home that is fully functioning and completed, than a home that seems to stop mid sentence. 

To a buyer, the project needs to be finished.  I often have to change the perception of the seller, to see these things with buyers’ eyes, because after a while the seller doesn’t see the projects anymore.  They have been living with them for so long; they just tend to blend into the background.

Many home supply stores offer classes on do-it-yourself projects.  I often recommend someone take one before making a decision to start a project.  We are all good at something, but certainly not good at everything.  Have a reality check with yourself when you are watching those reality shows. Get a real education on what’s involved with a do-it-yourself project, before you begin one.

Pride of Ownership doesn’t have a Price Tag

Posted on by

Pride of ownership does not come at a price point.  Homes can be found that are either cared for or neglected, whether you spend $150,000 or 1 million.  Just because you are willing spend more money, doesn’t guarantee a home in better condition.  People have relationships with their homes (not unlike how they relate to other people).  If a problem arises, some choose to ignore it, while others attack it head on.  There is often a reality check for the owner, when it comes time to sell, when the problems can’t be ignored anymore.

Sellers often realize that what hasn’t been repaired or replaced, will ultimately cost them in the end.  Money makes things go away. Owners think they are simply saving money by ignoring foundation problems, roof repair or whatever else may be deficient.  In realty though, they are simply differing the payment to the sale.  The home is worth less to a buyer and will take longer to sell when systems are in need of repair or replacement.

Summertime Blues

Posted on by

I have been trying to preview as many properties as possible in the morning, while everyone is still busy at work.  Pictures can be deceiving for better or worse, and typically don’t show things like pantries, closets and sometimes even backyards.  Previewing properties without clients helps us rule out some things not worth seeing in the heat of the day, which happens to be when you get out of the office.  It allows us to focus on true possibilities in less time, which works out well especially with children in tow.  Children generally love looking at houses, but when they are getting in and out of their car seats in the heat, they loose interest pretty quickly which makes it a trying time for all.

Someone is watching your pets, but who is watching your house?

I have seen some houses where the owners have been away on vacation.  It is important to keep in mind when selling your home that plants need to be watered, garbage should be removed, and pools need to be tended to.  I had a reader last week whose pool turned an unappealing shade of dark green while they were away.  Just like keeping the house clean, pools need to be kept clean as well.  Buyers don’t know that people may be away, they just think there may be a problem or the pool is not being maintained.

Neighborhood Spotlights

Posted on by

Austin Neighborhood Market Spotlights

I have selected some random neighborhoods in Austin below and listed some current real estate market data.

Understand this data is specific to single family houses.  The selected neighborhoods all show healthy days on market timelines.  Please note higher and moderately priced neighborhoods are showing similar days on market.  Low interest rates are certainly influencing homes sales.

If there is an area you want me to spotlight -please let me know.

Barton Hills

Number of Active Homes on the Market: 14

Average Days on Market: 40

Median Home Price: $ 442,000

Tanglewood Forest

Number of Active Homes on the Market: 14

Average Days on Market: 91

Median Home Price: $ 178,900

Cat Mountain

Number of Active Homes on the Market: 27

Average Days on Market: 93

Median Home Price: $ 534,450

Wells Branch

Number of Active Houses on the Market: 46

Average Days on Market: 78

Median Home Price: $ 174,700

Great Hills

Number of Active Houses on the Market: 45

Average Days on Market: 87

Median Home Price: $ 444,500

Senna Hills

Number of Active Houses on the Market: 11

Average Days on Market: 71

Median Home Price: $ 645,000

Upgrades on New Construction

Posted on by

 Upgrades are often priced for a moment in time, and aren’t going to add any profit 10 years from now, so choose them for you. I went on a listing appointment where the owner was pointing out all of the upgrades he paid for 10 years ago. Though certain features add substance like crown molding, other things just don’t. You may have paid $500 more for an upgraded bathtub 10 years ago, but understand it is now 10 years old. When I work with buyers on new construction, I ask this question. Are you doing this for you or the next owner? In all likelihood, the next owner isn’t going to be impressed with your upgraded light switch plate. Spend money on the things that will bring you joy, instead of trying to anticipate how someone might appreciate them in the future.

The Week That Was

Posted on by

Last week, I saved two lives by giving blood.  If you haven’t given blood before, it takes about an hour.  The only thing you really have to do is have a good meal before you go.  Unfortunately for me, I did an open house directly afterward.  In the 90 degree heat, that probably wasn’t the smartest thing I have ever done – but hey I’m an overachiever and it all worked out.  I spent some time in Hyde Park, Western Trails and the Woods of Westlake last week.  

Located between the Lost Creek and Parkstone subdivisions, the Woods of Westlake sits along the west side of 360. The Woods of Westlake has a similar feeling to Lost Creek, only with smaller lots.  It offers direct access to the Barton Creek Greenbelt, making it a desirable location.

The Woods of Westlake is within the City of Austin, and is in the Eanes Independent School district.  Its kind of hard to tell what my picture in the left hand corner is, but its of a walking stick I saw on a house.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen one before, and it was kind of cool.