Curb Appeal

We often focus on the inside of a home when planning to sell it and forget about the outside. Curb appeal gives a buyer a first impression, not only of your home — but also of you. To a buyer, a well kept home on the outside tends to reflect pride of ownership on the inside. Whether or not the assumption is true, is irrelevant when you are selling your home. You may never get a second chance to make first impression.

When we live for awhile in the same space, we often become blind, deaf and well, sometimes even dumb. How many times have you walked around that overgrown bush that has taken over your walkway, instead of just trimming it back? How often do you look at the weeds in your planting beds and try to convince yourself they are wild flowers? We all do it to varying degrees, so here are some reminders of things that need tending to when you are going to sell your home — clean the gutters, weed and mulch planting beds, cut back bushes, paint or power wash if the house looks dirty.

Sellers worry about the foyer in the entry, because in their minds it is the first thing a buyer will see. The truth is that the first thing a buyer sees is the front lawn.

7606 Latta Drive Open Sunday Featured in Austin Statesman

7606 Latta Drive

Little Bit of Country in the City

7606 Latta Drive – Open Sunday, June 19th from  1:00-4:00

Home will be featured in Sunday’s Austin American Statesman

Tradtional farnhouse style colonial located on nearly 3 park-like acres, minutes away from William Cannon retail stores including Costco.  Set along the Edwards Aquifer, and backs to Williams Dry Creek, this niche property provides nesting for the Black Capped Vireo and Golden Cheek Warbler.  The mature, wooded landscaping is a nature lover’s delight with walkable trails and plenty of tree canopies. 7606 Latta Drive is a great property for 4H and nature lovers.

Built in 2001, 7606 Latta Drive features a traditional floor plan with a formal dining room and eat-in kitchen.  There is a large lemonade front porch ideal for a rocking chair or hammock.  7606 Latta Drive is gated and includes 3 sheds for lawn supplies and equipment.  Three RV hook-ups are also located on the property. 

7606 Latta Drive has no HOA.  There are city restrictions,  but note that horses and other live stock are permitted on the property, providing set back requirements and other restrictions are met.

7606 Latta Drive is  zoned as a single family residence.

Square footage:  1,664 (per tax records)

Bedrooms:  3

Baths: 2.5

Acres:  2.93

7606 Latta Drive is on city sewer – no septic!

Visit me on Father’s Day from 1 – 4

Doreen Zelma

For Sale or On Sale?

Have you ever gone into a store and notice the items for sale on the clearance rack? Have you ever wondered how they got there? The items may have been damaged and therefore weren’t worth the same as its fellow items in ‘mint’ condition. For others, the items weren’t priced right to begin with. The product wasn’t being marketed the right buyers, so those that would have bought it — never saw it.

The real estate market is no different. There are houses that are in need of repair and therefore wind up on the ‘clearance rack’. Other times, houses wind up ‘on sale’ when they start out over priced. When your home is listed over the market, it won’t sell, because the listing is missing its intended market. Now, one might think that the home might seem like a deal for the next market up. The problem though, with that mindset is that the next market up is either bigger, more updated, or in a better location. An over priced home really doesn’t have an audience, so it ultimately sells for less than what it would have – if the home had been initially priced correctly.

Call First: Go!

When going on a listing appointment, one of the things I discuss with my Sellers are showing instructions. Showing instructions are entered into the listing database, so that agents understand what they need to do to gain access to a house. Instructions can include anything from the need to make an appointment with the listing agent, to simply showing up.

Most Sellers think that Buyers plan ahead to see homes, so they always think they are going to have time to prepare for a showing. More often then not, that is simply not true. Buyers do plan ahead to buy a home. They talk to me about where they want to live and what they are looking for in a home. Buyers often make an appointment with me in advance to view homes, but often don’t know what they want to see until the last minute. Everyone always wants to see what new inventory might come up, so some homes are scheduled ahead of time, but others are often chosen at the last minute, which may alter the overall itinerary and change appointment times.

Convenience is Key

Understand, Buyers’ schedules are often not as flexible as you might think. I often have clients that will have a babysitter watch the children, so they can view some homes with me for a few hours. Other times, buyers are only in town for a day or two and need to see as many homes as possible in a small window of time.

Sellers can’t sell what Buyers can’t see, so flexibility is key to getting a house sold. The easier it is to show, the more Buyers will have the opportunity to see the home. When I am on a listing appointment, we talk about how to we are going to manage the dogs, and how the morning routine might change. Beds need to be made, sinks need to be cleaned and laundry needs to be put away. This way, if a call comes in as the day progresses, no one panics. With Buyers you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

The happy medium that seems to work best with my clients is Call First, then Go as a showing instruction. It gives my clients a head up that someone is coming, but offers the flexibility agents often need to show it.

Little Things Mean A Lot

How are you? Maybe a little tired? Tis the season isn’t it? For most, the holiday season adds an extra page to our to-do list. It’s amazing how much we can get done this time of year. It makes me wonder how much I could do all year, with that little extra effort.

I went on a listing appointment this week, where all I needed to do was point out the little things that needed to be done. Replacing burnt light bulbs, lampshades, throw rugs, drawer pulls and handles can give a house a mini face lift.  That little extra effort can help to make a great first impression to a buyer. When you do have some free time, here are a few things you light want to add to your list of things to do:

Zilker Tree Holiday Festival

Ballet Austin: The Nutcracker at the Long Center

Ice Skating at Whole Foods