Preparing Your Home For Sale

Selling Your Home During the Holidays

November 24, 2017 by Eric Lowry

Every year around this time, home owners all over are deciding to either postpone putting their home on the market or take it off the market until after the holidays. There are several major reasons why this is a bad idea:

Relocation buyers are out there. Many companies are still hiring throughout the holidays and need their employees in their new positions as soon as possible.
Purchasers who are looking for homes during the holidays are serious buyers and are ready to buy now.
You can restrict the showings on your home to the times you want it shown. You will remain in control.
Homes show better when decorated for the holidays.
There is less competition for you as a seller right now.
The desire to own a home doesn’t stop when the holidays come. Buyers who were unable to find their dream home during the busy spring and summer months are still searching!
The supply of listings increases substantially after the holidays. Also, in many parts of the country, new construction will continue to surge reaching new heights in 2018, which will lessen the demand for your house.

If you’ve decided to use this time of year to your advantage, you’ve made a great choice! Here are some tips to help guide you:

If possible, put your house on the market before you decorate for the holidays. Pictures of your home will be taken for the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and other marketing purposes looking as it normally would.
Once you have listed your house, decorate but don’t go overboard. You don’t want your house to seem cluttered and cramped. If necessary, move furniture out to accommodate your tree and other decorations.
Take advantage of this time of year when you have showings on your home. Your home feels even more cozy, warm and welcoming during the holidays. Appeal to all of the senses. Play Christmas music softly in the background. Bake Christmas cookies just before a showing and have them on a platter for the buyers to enjoy.
Lastly, use out of town guests to your advantage. Enlist their help in keeping your home clean and tidy. Assign everyone a task to complete each day. Delegate so you do not feel overwhelmed.

Thinking about selling your home during the holidays?
Call or text The Lowry Team at 513-368-3751

Cincinnati Home Selling Guide

June 25, 2017 by Eric Lowry

Whether you are thinking of selling your home next month or next year, if you want to get the best price for your home with the least amount of stress, you’re going to want to make sure to hire a top Realtor to guide you throughout the process.

If you’re not quite ready to speak with a Realtor just yet, you can start with reading this Cincinnati home selling guide. You can also get a free report to find out what your home is worth here.

You may be wondering if now is a good time to sell a home or how to get the most money for your house. This free eGuide will answer many of your questions and likely bring up a few things you didn’t even know you should consider when selling a home.

Check it out, and feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.
Call or text The Lowry Team at 513-368-3751.

11 Moving Tips to Make Your Move Easier

March 25, 2017 by Eric Lowry

Everyone knows that moving is not easy or fun. There is so much to do and it seems like so little time to get it all done. Read on to find out our top moving tips to make your move easier.

1.Declutter! When you’re preparing for a move, it’s the perfect time to get rid of anything you don’t use or need anymore. There are plenty of places you can donate gently used clothes and items to, or you can try to make a little money selling them.

2. Stock up on lots of boxes. You can either spend money on new boxes to use, or you can hit the road and pick up some for free. Grocery stores and shoe stores generally have a lot of boxes broken down the back, and employees are often more than happy to give some to people who are moving. Another great place to stop in is your local liquor store. The boxes they have are usually really strong and have handles, which is a definite plus!

3. Pack an overnight bag. After moving all day, the last thing you want to do is search through a bunch of boxes to find your tooth brush or phone charger. Pack any toiletries, clothes, or phone chargers that you will need at the end of the day.

4. Pack a “first day” tub. Fill a clear plastic tub with the essentials you will need for your first day in your new home. This can include toilet paper, cleaning supplies, snacks, chargers, etc.

5. Put plastic wrap over your drawers so you don’t have to empty them. By doing so, you will secure the items in your drawers and protect them from getting dirty. It also saves you the time and work of having to pack the stuff up into boxes, then unpack them back into the drawers.

6. Place styrofoam plates between your glass plates to keep them from breaking in transit.

7. Leave your clothes on the hangers and just simply put a garbage pack up around the clothes in bunches. This is seriously the easiest way to move a closet full of clothes.

8. Label not just what’s in the boxes, but also what room the boxes go in. If you’re feeling ambitious you can also color code the boxes using colorful duct tape so everyone knows what boxes go where. Also, don’t forget to clearly label if a box has fragile contents.

9. Take picture on your phone of how any electronics are hooked up so you can remember where all the wires go.

10. Reserve a moving truck well in advance so you don’t end up out of luck on the day of. You can also reserve a moving pod to fill in the days leading up to your move so you’re on less of a time crunch.

Bonus Tip** Contact The Lowry Team to request a list of our preferred vendors such as professional movers, carpet cleaners, etc! With over 17 years of real estate service, we can recommend the best in the area to help you with any aspect of your home buying and moving process! 513-368-3751

Best Home Updates For Increasing Your Property Value

March 19, 2017 by Eric Lowry

If you are looking to have work done on your home in order to increase its value for a future sale, you need to make sure you are choosing the updates that will have the greatest impact. Not all improvements to your home will be reflected in its resale value. If you want to see a return on your investment, keep in mind these best home updates for increasing your property value.

Many homeowners who aren’t looking to have extensive work done choose to make simple updates to their home in order for it sell faster and for more money. These simple updates include a fresh coat of neutral paint, new carpets or flooring. However, if you’re looking to have more extensive work done on your home, consider the following options:

Kitchen Remodel
Average Return at Resale: Minor Remodel – 98.5%, Major Remodel – 91%
Update the cabinet faces, counter tops, appliances, fixtures, and flooring.
Bathroom Remodel
Average Return at Resale: Minor Remodel – 102%, Major Remodel – 93.2%
Replace the tub/shower, tile surround, floor, toilet, sink, vanity, and fixtures.
Exterior Improvements
Average Return at Resale: 95.5%
Update/replace vinyl siding, paint, update the front entry, replace railings, etc.
Landscaping
Average Return at Resale: 100%
Lay sod if necessary, add flower beds and plant flowers for a pop of color, etc.
Basement Remodel
Average Return at Resale: 90.1%
Finish the walls and ceiling, add recessed lighting, add flooring, consider extras such as a wet bar or half bath.
Replacement Windows
Average Return at Resale: 89.6%
Replace old, drafty windows with new energy efficient windows.

Questions about selling your home for the most money?
Call or text Eric Lowry at 513-368-3751.

Will we save money if we sell our house without a Realtor?

March 16, 2017 by Eric Lowry

Q. Will we save money if we sell our house without a Realtor?

A. Studies have shown that if you list your home for sale with a real estate agent you get signficantly more money for your house than if you sell it without a Realtor or “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO). According to U.S. National Association for Realtors, for-sale-by-owner transactions typically result in a considerable cut in price–as much as 28% less than what may have been made by contacting a realtor, Eric Lowry and The Lowry Team for example. Saving a little bit of money on the real estate commission is actually costing thousands on the actual sale price.

In addition, if you list your own house for sale, you may be able to get a few buyers to find your house on the Internet or driving by. However, 88% of buyers are using a real estate agent. This means if you sell FSBO you are missing out on 88% of the potenial home buyers that are out looking. In order to get the best price for your home, you need to make your house available to as many buyers as possible.

Q. Why do homes listed by real estate agents generate more at sale time?

A. There are several reasons that Realtors are able to get sellers those higher sale prices. One reason is that they have immense access to current data regarding the housing market and accurate appraisal tools for assessing the home’s value. While most homeowners do at least some market research, they aren’t likely to have the access to the scope of information databases that Realtors do. Statistics show that without this information, many homeowners just aren’t asking enough for their property.

On the other hand, the opposite is also true. Many homeowners ask a much higher price for their home than it is worth in the current market. A real estate professional is an expert at advising homeowners about pricing strategies and can help make sure the home is priced right. Asking too much for a FSBO home typically results in the home sitting for a long time on the market and may not sell.

Finally, many Realtors are excellent marketers. They are experts are providing homes with the exposure they need to help generate the highest sale price and quickest possible sale. The yard signs and Craigslist ads that many for-sale-by-owners rely on are just not enough to produce a steady stream of potential buyers. Professional Realtors use a wide variety of means to generate interest in a home. A real estate agent’s day-to-day work with home buyers also provides them with a regular opportunity to show homes listed in their area.

The fact is that most home sellers are happy to pay their Realtor’s commission. Realtors have the tools to effectively market the home and the skill to manage open houses, showings, home inspections, negotiations, and much more. If you are thinking of selling your home yourself, you might want to reconsider and contact Eric Lowry and The Lowry Team. Call/text 513-368-3751.

10 Things That Turn Off Home Buyers

March 16, 2017 by Eric Lowry

If you are planning to sell your home in the near future, you want to make sure both you and your home are prepared. To sell your home faster and for more money, avoid these 10 things that turn off home buyers:

1. Poor Curb Appeal – Curb appeal provides your home’s first impression to potential buyers. Spruce up the yard before putting the house on the market. Trim the trees and freshen up the flower beds with fresh mulch.

2. Odors – Odors are huge turn off for buyers. If you are a smoker, consider smoking outdoors while attempting to sell your house. Also, hide away pet toys, bowls, etc. Vacuum and clean regularly so that the home does not smell of cigarette, pet, or kitchen odors.

3. Outdated Fixtures and Appliances – A potential home buyer does not often want the added expense of having to purchase new ceiling fans, light fixtures or kitchen appliances immediately after moving in. If your appliances are old or outdated, consider putting in new ones – this can help your home sell faster and for more money.

4. Wallpaper – Wallpaper is usually very outdated and personalized to the present owner’s tastes. Chances are most buyers would want to remove it entirely which can be a big, time consuming job.

5. Bright/ Unique Paint Colors – A lot of people prefer neutral paint tones as it brightens the room and matches more decor. Having to paint over dark or really bright colors can be a tedious task that many potential buyers would rather not bother with.

6. Carpet Stains – One of the top updates that a home seller can do before putting their house on the market is replacing or cleaning the carpets.

7. Personal Items – Having a lot of personal items and family photos out on display can make it hard for potential buyers to picture themselves in the home. It’s suggested that you put many away so home buyers can more easily imagine their family living there.

8. Dirt, Grime and Filth – If your home is on the market, it should sparkle! Home owners need to give the house a once over deep clean. Pay especially close attention to cleaning the kitchens and bathrooms. Buyers are turned off by dirty showers and tubs.

9. Clutter – Clean off the bookshelves and clean out the closets. Remove extra items from counter tops in the kitchen and bathrooms. By doing this, it will appear as if there is a lot more room and storage in the home.

10. Seller Stays Home – It makes potential home buyers extremely uncomfortable when the seller stays home during the showing. Buyers do not feel at ease talking about their likes, dislikes and concerns while the home owner is present. They also often feel very rushed due to feeling uncomfortable. Hanging around during the showings on your home is doing yourself a disservice.

Questions about selling your home? Call or text Eric Lowry at 513-368-3751