Tag Archives: seller

New Home for the New Year

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new years As we ring in 2015, many buyers have a new house on their list of New Year’s wishes. Historically the day after Christmas is the busiest day of the year to look of a house online. I alone, have shown 4 properties since Christmas, so buyers are out there. One of the benefits of looking this time of year is that school is still out of session in Austin, which makes it much easier to get around town. Many people also take off from work between Christmas and New Year’s which makes it a little less stressful with extra time available to shop for a home.

Holiday Buyers

Yes, this time of year can be a hassle for sellers who want to have a few pajama days and don’t want to leave the house. Keep in mind if people are looking for homes in Texas, in 30 degree weather during the holiday season — they are serious buyers. Buyers who are intent on buying now are the people your want looking at your home as opposed to the Looky Lou’s who are not buying until Spring.

Sell a Home by Showing a Home

The easiest way to sell a home is when the seller matches the intent of the buyer. You can’t sell it if you don’t show it, so if that buyer wants to see it and you want to sell it — let them come. Plug in that Christmas tree, throw on a coat and take a drive around the neighborhood. You can even stay in your pajamas.

Cheers to a safe, happy and prosperous 2015!

Buyers are Guests too

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happy familyBuyers come back for a second showing when they really like a house. If buyers don’t like a house the first time, they don’t come back. It’s important, for a seller, to make every showing count and not to let anyone in until they are 100% ready. It is often about the little things that make a good first impression. Replacing burnt light bulbs, lampshades, throw rugs, sweeping the walkway and cleaning the windows can give a house a mini face lift and really show pride of ownership. One of the benefits of selling a home this time of year is that many of those things happen anyway.

The Austin Home Buying Season is Year Round

Real estate does not slow down in Austin anymore during the winter months.  When selling a house any time of the year, you want to make it clean enough for company. This time of year getting a home ready to sell is easier since owners often have guests over, which adds some needed motivation to get a home spic and span. Making a buyer feel like a guest, will make them want to stay – which is exactly what you want them to do.

9432 Collazo Way Sendera

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9432 Collazo Way, Austin Texas 78749

9432 Collazo Way is a single story home for sale located South Austin, in the neighborhood of Sendera. Features white brick on 3-sides set large lot with trees providing shade in front and back yard including oak and a pear tree. Nice floorplan with master facing backyard and set separate from three secondary bedrooms.

Large living area painted and carpet in secondary bedrooms replaced 7 months ago. Sprawling Travertine Tile in main living areas and common bath. Master bedroom is tiled and features double vanity in master bathroom Fireplace in living room. Vaulted ceilings. Covered patio with large fenced backyard. Bowie High School area. Easy access to major raodways with retail nearby.

9432 Collazo Way features 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, dining area off kitchen with open floor plan into living area. Per the tax records, 9432 Collazo Way offers 1,560 square feet of living space, an attached 2-car garage on a .26 acre lot.

Directions to From Mopac South, L on Slaughter, L on Bemner, L on Collazo, 9432 Collazo Way is on the Left hand side.

Moving to Austin

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Moving to Austin? I have selected randam subdivisions in the greater Austin area and listed some current real estate market data. Average Days on Market below 3 months are considered Seller’s markets, because homes are moving quickly. Neighborhoods with homes on the market between 3 and 6 months are considered neutral. As you can see, the Austin Real Estate market is very strong. Buyers are moving to Austin and with interest rates still low…buyers are moving within Austin.

Moving to Austin?
The data below is specific to single family homes. If there is an area you want me to spotlight -please let me know.

Tarry Town (Central Austin)
Number of Active Houses on the Market: 16
Average Days on Market: 80
Median List Price: $ 797,000

Legend Oaks (Southwest Austin)
Number of Active Houses on the Market: 8
Average Days on Market: 52
Median List Price: $ 291,725

Plum Creek (Kyle)
Number of Active Houses on the Market: 37
Average Days on Market: 41
Median List Price: $ 171,827

Great Hills (Northwest Austin)
Number of Active Houses on the Market: 25
Average Days on Market: 51
Median List Price: $ 495,126

Pemberton Heights (Central Austin)
Number of Active Houses on the Market: 6
Average Days on Market: 120
Median List Price: $ 1,687,500

Circle C Ranch (Southwest Austin)
Number of Active Houses on the Market: 22
Average Days on Market: 43
Median List Price: $ 352,400

Downtown Condos (Central Austin)
Number of Active Houses on the Market: 102
Average Days on Market: 82
Median List Price: $ 455,500

Travis Heights (Central Austin)
Number of Active Houses on the Market: 12
Average Days on Market: 64
Median List Price: $ 694,700

Deck the Halls

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‘Tis the season for shopping, baking, cooking, cleaning and maybe a little pepper spray in your eye. With all of the added things to find time for during the holidays, selling a home can seem an additional job we may not have time for. There are benefits though to selling during the holiday season and certainly things to be mindful of.

Austin Winter Real Estate Market

The holiday season is also the start of colder weather. In other parts of the country snow can really impact winter home sales. Fortunately, for the Austin real estate market snow and ice days are little and far between. Buyers can generally shop year round though it may be hard to find the time.

Only the must-see homes on the hot list make the cut this time of year. There are fewer buyers this time of year and with little time, those coming out to see a house are serious shoppers. Sellers will get less traffic but those that come out want or need to buy — now.

A decorated house brings warmth and whimsy to the décor which makes people feel good. Decorations help set the stage for your home. One of my sellers’ biggest challenges for selling a home is keeping it clean. Houses are generally cleaner this time of year because we clean anyway when friend and family are coming to visit.

Houses smell better this time of year as well. The real Christmas tree, those fresh baked cookies and gingerbread room deodorizers make buyers feel good when they come see your home.

There are many sellers that will take their house off the market between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I always encourage by sellers to keep their houses on the market. Serious buyers will miss your home if it is not for sale.

The Power of Wow

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view

Every house needs a wow factor. As a listing agent, I try to highlight one when marketing a home to appeal to buyers. Buyers often have their own wow factor when touring a home as it can be a personal thing. A wow factor can be anything: an island kitchen, hand scraped floors, even a great price can turn a buyer’s head. I was in Driftwood two months ago and the neighboring house has an outdoor fireplace that was amazing. My clients and I just stood there and said “wow” in unison.

Austin area real estate is unique in that the hill country landscape adds some natural wow factors.  City, hillside and lake views all add an additional backdrop to many of the homes here.

A wow factor puts the exclamation point on a home and really sells it. Do you know what’s really interesting though? Rarely does the wow factor translate over the internet. You might be in like over the internet, but you won’t be in love until you see it in person. Even when price is the wow factor, it is often hard to see what might appeal to you over the internet.

Call First: Go!

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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.