The AmyBSells Team has been featured in the blogosphere, with a positive write-up over at Working Moms Against Guilt. The writer, a client of mine, shares a great, personal story about both the strain and reward found in working hard to sell your house. “It happened so quickly, it almost might look “easy” to a casual observer. But let me tell you, transforming a totally messy, dirty, toy-infested house into a staged, real estate-ready model home was no easy feat. I literally spent an entire week decluttering, moving stuff into storage, cleaning, and decorating (per our wonderful... [more...]

In this tough market, pricing is KEY. I will work tirelessly to price your house appropriately, but it helps when sellers understand the dos and don’ts. Frontdoor.com outlined six major selling mistakes and tips on how to avoid them. We’ll elaborate on them here. Mistake #1: Forgoing Research. Not basing a listing price on careful research could leave your home languishing on the market. And it’s more complicated than just looking at what a house down the street is listed for, or making something up that sounds appropriate to you. What I will do is a comparative market analysis,... [more...]

You may have heard this announcement earlier this month: “January new home sales fell to a record low.” This is true, but we can put it into perspective. Perspective is always important in managing consumer confidence! The record low applies to new construction, not overall home sales. While there are great deals in new construction right now, builders simply cannot discount homes like regular sellers can. Builders have a finite cost to everything they put in. The deals they will offer are free upgrades, appliances, and other benefits. They can only slash their prices so much —... [more...]

Normally, we recommend you consult or hire a stager before listing your home. But some of my clients want to get a head start, and this is what I recommend. I find my clients are becoming more savvy about how to prep their homes for sale. (Thanks goes to HGTV, I suspect.) This is a long, detailed list. (You can download a printable version.) However, I can sum it up easily: De-clutter, use a storage unit, and CLEAN. Your home must be as clean as possible. I recommend a pre-listing professional cleaning, and have put it on the list. ☐ GET A STORAGE UNIT ☐ KEEP EVERYTHING CLEAN Outdoors ☐ Clean... [more...]

By Steve Habegger AmyBSells Team Certified Distressed Property Expert Short sales and foreclosures have become dirty words to the average person.  But in my experience and education, I’ve found that there are many average people who are unfortunate enough to encounter these realities.  Too many homeowners are making decisions without proper information. That is why I have become a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) for the AmyBSells Team. A CDPE is a real estate professional with specific understanding of the complex issues that confront homeowners in distress. Through comprehensive... [more...]

Here’s a scenario: You bought your house a few years ago, and you NEED to move — whether it’s for a job relocation, a lost job, a divorce, or other life changes. You need to do it now because there’s no other option, but you owe more on your property than it’s worth and you’re going to need to bring a large amount of money to the table. Or, perhaps you’re in a situation where you need money due to a lost job or sudden major healthcare costs. What do you do to get money in an emergency? Well, first and most important, you need to SAVE as much as fast as you can starting today.... [more...]

Sellers/Repeat buyers have only about THREE months to take advantage of the extended tax credits, which are available through April 30, 2010. People definitely have questions. This is commonly known as the “Seller” tax credit, but the credit is for the purchase of your new home. “Who is eligible for the current home buyer tax credits?” First-time buyers who have not owned a home in the past three years qualify for credit. Sellers/Repeat buyers qualify who have occupied their current home as principal residence for 5 consecutive years in the last 8 years. “How much... [more...]

If you’re preparing to put your home on the market, or you’re currently trying to sell, it’s important to keep your home and personal safety in mind! This is what Realty Times and NAR think agents should be telling their clients about safe showings: — Strangers will be walking through your home during showings and open houses. Hide any valuables in a safe place. This includes items you might not initially think would attract interest, like prescription medications or alcohol, as well as information that could be used for identity theft. — Not all agents, buyers and sellers... [more...]

Home remodeling is still worth the investment, according to the 2009-2010 Cost vs. Value Report. According to the data in the report, various types of siding and window replacements and expansions of living spaces round out the list of the top ten ways to get the greatest return on investment for a remodel. And many of the projects that are receiving top returns are mid range and modest cost projects. So don’t let a slow economy prevent you from making an upgrade to your home. Keep it mid-range to see the best return. The best thing to do? Do the upgrades as you can and as you want to. It’s... [more...]

This Week in Hyde Park The median list price in Hyde Park this week is $344,900. Inventory has been lightening lately and the Market Action Index has been trending up. Though days-on-market is increasing, these are mildly positive indications for the market. Supply and Demand Home sales have been exceeding new inventory for several weeks. While still a Buyer’s market, prices seem to have responded by moving upward. If the demand trends continue, expect prices to keep marching upward, especially once we see a Seller’s Market. Market Action Index The Market Action Index answers the question... [more...]

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