Doing the bare minimum isn't enough anymore. Make sure your real estate agent does these 11 things to market your home:
Smart marketing sells homes, and these statistics are just a few examples of why we place so much importance on the strategy we use to sell your home. Source: PsPrint
There are many sites that you can use to get your home’s value, but unfortunately, they’re not as accurate as you may think. Automated values are a good starting point but...
Getting your home’s value from a robot or an algorithm is fine but a more in-depth analysis by an experienced human is essential if you really want to know your home’s potential on the market.
How is our estimate different from a Zestimate and other online services? Instead of a robot and an algorithm, we use our experience and up-to-date MLS data. A human being will prepare your report, and due to that, it won't be "instant," but it will be accurate. So to get your home's accurate value click on the link below.
Eric Slifkin, a Broker Associate, is the founder of the Slifkin Team at Keller Williams Realty. Eric and his team of experienced agents serve South Florida and the Treasure Coast, including Stuart, Port Saint Lucie, and the Palm Beaches.
Whether you just moved in or have lived in your home for 50 years, it's common to wonder how long you should stay in your home before you sell it. According to the National Association of Realtors®, ten years is the average amount of time that a homeowner will stay in their home before deciding to sell it.
If you're under ten years and itching to sell, many experts say you should follow the “five-year rule” and stay in the same home for at least five years before selling.
Five years may sound like a long time, and you may think you are ready to sell now, but before you make any rash decisions, we put together a few of the essential factors that of which should be aware.
One of the first and foremost factors you must consider when you decide to sell your home is your mortgage payment. If you want to make money when you sell your home, then your sale price must be higher than what’s left of your mortgage. When you first buy your home and begin to pay your mortgage, the first few years will go towards interest rather than the principal amount. Typically this means that it’s more challenging to make money off your sale under five years. However, if you put a larger downpayment on your house, then your interest rate and mortgage will probably be lower, making it possible to make money in a shorter amount of time.
Building home equity is essential. You’ll want to have a lot of equity built up when you decide to sell. The amount of home equity you’ve obtained depends on any remodeling or renovations you’ve made, as well as your mortgage. If the home you bought was already in tip-top shape, then it may be difficult to build equity. If you’ve remodeled the kitchen, bathroom, redone the flooring, or made other renovations around the house, then you have most likely gained home equity. You can also increase your home equity by paying off more of the principal on your mortgage.
One of the more common reasons you’re eager to sell your home is to make money on your property. There are a few things to look out for when deciding if it’s a seller's market and whether or not it's time to make your move. If you notice the price per square foot in your area is increasing, the chances are that homes stay on the market for a shorter time. You should also take note of houses near you that are selling. It might seem time-consuming, but don't worry! We always keep track of recent home sales in the area and can send you over an up-to-date market report.
We have exclusive access to past sales close to your home, and we know the current market.
Maybe this was the first house you bought when you were expecting your first child, and there were only three of you, but now, with three kids and two dogs, there isn't much space. Although it may be sad to move out of the home where you started your family, the happiness of your family may be higher than the cost of selling your home and buying a new one. Other life situations like divorce, illness, or even the need to downsize may also lead you to sell sooner than you originally planned.
If you don’t qualify to avoid paying capital gains taxes on the sale of your home, you may not want to sell your house yet. To avoid capital gains taxes, you should make an effort to stay in your home for at least two to five years. Making a sale before two years could be a huge mistake, and could ultimately leave you without much equity, especially if you have to pay capital gains tax.
Closing costs are often overlooked but play an essential part when it comes to selling your home. On average, real estate agents have a commission rate of 6% when you sell your home. You are also likely to pay a closing cost when buying a home, which can be between 3%-6% of the purchase price of the home. Keeping closing costs in mind before you sell allows you to budget this into your expenses and avoid surprises when it comes to closing.
If you've already considered these factors and decided that it's time to sell, take the first step, and get your home's value. If not, no worries! We're here for you when you're ready.
Eric Slifkin, a Broker Associate, is the founder of the Slifkin Team at Keller Williams Realty. Eric and his team of experienced agents serve South Florida and the Treasure Coast, including Stuart, Port Saint Lucie, and the Palm Beaches.
Thinking of buying a home this year? Our latest article addresses every “What if?” so you’ll know if you’re making the right decision.
When you see all those “for sale” signs pop up in your neighborhood — and then see them change to “under contract” shortly afterward — it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out if you’re not buying a home this summer. So, you run the numbers, spend nights scrolling through listings, and start to imagine your new life in your dream home.
There’s just one thing: you may not be ready to buy a home right now. While most real estate agents point to a hot market (and still low-interest rates) as an excellent reason to start making offers, more factors go into this big life decision. The real estate agents that automatically tell you that NOW is the right time to buy a home can’t know that without knowing the specifics of your situation.
Before going down a long and stressful journey, let's go through some scenarios that might help you decide if it's the right or the wrong time for you to buy a home
Let’s face it: Saving enough for a 20% down payment on a home can be a daunting challenge. While many loans allow for lower down payments, these also often come with “hidden expenses” that add to your monthly mortgage costs such as private mortgage insurance (PMI) or higher interest rates. While every homeowner-to-be anticipates making sacrifices to afford their home, you don’t want to be in a position where affording your monthly mortgage payment requires serious hardship.
Also, your monthly mortgage payment isn’t the only expensive line item in your budget: you’ll need to be able to afford maintenance, furniture, and emergency repairs big and small.
This one is big. When everyone else is buying new places, it’s easy to fall down the spiral of judging yourself because you’re not doing the same. However, the grass may seem greener on the other side of that “sold” sign. Your friends may be showing off their new digs, but not telling you how they’ve had to put off going on vacation for at least a decade to afford it. Or, they may be able to afford it, but they’re not the ones who will be paying your mortgage. Don’t fall for peer pressure if your current place fits your needs right now.
You do indeed build equity after you buy a home, but it can take years before you see an effect on your net worth. If you need to move (for work, a relationship, family, or because the home doesn’t suit your needs) before you have positive equity in your home, then you won’t enjoy the boost in net worth. If you value flexibility more at this stage in your life, then renting makes more sense. You can build your net worth in other ways too, like contributing to a savings account, 401k, or other investments.
Sometimes the market is just not in your favor right now, and there might be little changes you can make that can increase the value of your current home. Get a free and accurate home value report from one of our team members if you're unsure or haven't checked your home's value in a while.
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You’ve passed by a particular home a dozen times and find yourself looking through the listing photos more often than you look at pictures of your family and friends. You’ve mentally re-decorated and decided just where you’ll put your sofa. Fun, right? Now imagine waking up at 7 AM on a Saturday to mow the lawn, fix the toilet in the master bathroom, and find out what’s making that creaking noise in the attic. Or, having to cancel your weekend get-together with friends because your water heater decided to stop working and a repair person can’t get there until later in the week. Not as fun. Home maintenance is an ongoing project filled with unglamorous tasks that you may not be ready for just yet.
While you may not think you’ll mind that extra hour on the road each way to have a garage to call your own, you'll likely feel differently after the novelty of the new home wears off. Though there are always trade-offs with homeownership, one involving location requires a huge life change — so it isn’t one to take lightly or rush into, especially when it comes to moving to a drastically different kind of area or any time you also have to consider a change of school systems.
Even if you can afford the down payment, have leftover money for emergencies, are okay with the lifestyle change of homeownership, and have found a new home that offers way more than your current place, you still may not be emotionally ready to buy a home. Something to consider: if you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed about the idea, or it’s causing conflict with your significant other, a timeout may be needed. Pick a date in the future to revisit the idea of buying a home, then see how you feel. If your gut says you’re ready, get in touch with a real estate agent who will find you a home that’ll make you excited to make the big move.
We know everyone has different concerns and personal circumstances.
If you’re still unsure if you’re ready to buy or have questions about what the process will look like for you, we’re prepared to walk you through every step of the process whenever the time is right for you!
Eric Slifkin, a Broker Associate, is the founder of the Slifkin Team at Keller Williams Realty. Eric and his team of experienced agents serve South Florida and the Treasure Coast, including greater Stuart, Port Saint Lucie, and the Palm Beaches.
Imagine how it would feel if someone else bought your dream home because they saw it first... If you don’t want that to happen, we created an exclusive email list you can join to access listings before they hit Zillow or the MLS.
Click here to become one of our insiders
11 Things Your Real Estate Agent Must Be Doing
Have specific questions about selling your home? Schedule a call.
Smart marketing sells homes, and these statistics are just a few examples of why we place so much importance on the strategy we use to sell your home. Source: PsPrint
Eric Slifkin, a licensed real estate professional since 2003, is the founder of the Slifkin Team at Keller Williams Realty...
Mar 26 6 minutes read
Ask any real estate agent how the market is, and you’re almost sure to get the same answer: “Great!”
Even if the market is great, it still may not be a great time for you to sell. Many real estate agents will tell you that NOW is the right time to sell your home when in reality, they can’t know that without knowing the specifics of your situation. Before going down a long and stressful journey, let’s first decide if selling your home right now is a mistake.
What’s true about relationships is also true about selling your home: When it’s time to make a big decision, go with your gut feeling. But like anyone who has ever put off a breakup, it’s amazing how easy it is to talk yourself out of what you really want to do. You’ll say you’ll get around to addressing the ‘80s curb appeal, that you can live with your shoebox-sized closets, and you don’t mind that the location limits your job opportunities. Really, you’re fine.
Yet, you still can’t shake the feeling that it’s time to go. Though there are many ways to justify staying put, some of the most common doubts can be particularly persistent — and some may even masquerade as logical reasons.
Here’s how to identify these hang-ups so you can finally move on and own the home you truly want:
Markets are about timing — yours could be on an upswing and selling could mean you’re missing out on receiving more for your home later. However, markets can also just as dramatically swing the other way, just like they did in 2008. The lesson? You can’t really time the market. Instead, focus on easy (and inexpensive) tasks in your control that can help your home sell for more whenever the time is right. Decluttering, painting your rooms neutral colors and even cleaning up your yard can sometimes bring a home’s value up regardless of what the market is doing.
If your credit has gotten worse, you’ve spent all your savings on the home you’re currently in, or your financial situation is just tight overall, it might be a mistake to sell your home right now.
This is one of the trickiest thoughts about selling because it seems reasonable. You know your budget and you’ve probably even looked up what homes have been selling for in your neighborhood. But after researching, you honestly know you just don’t qualify for a new mortgage right now and would have to go back to renting if you did sell.
Working with close friends and family may not be the best decision. At first thought, it seems like a great idea because they know you, your current situation, and you can (in most cases) trust them. But imagine what it will feel like five months from now when your home is still on the market with zero offers...
Take time to think hard about who you’re hiring to sell your home. If your friend or family member feels like the best decision for you, go for it. Working with the right real estate agent can take the stress out of the selling process. That said, treat this decision like you would for anyone else who would provide a service for you and take the time to interview other prospective agents.
This can help you screen the ones that may not be the best fit for your personality or even your home (especially if you have a unique property such as a vintage home). Focus your questions on their past experiences selling in your area, how long they’ve worked in your market, how well they know your neighborhood, and if they have worked with sellers who have similarly valued homes to yours. From speaking with several real estate agents (some you already knew and some you didn’t), you’ll also get a sense of how they communicate and if you’ll “click” during what can be a stressful process no matter who helps you.
Depending on the age of your property, your agent may suggest making a few repairs in order to command the highest price. The extent of repairs needed often has to do with the comparable homes in your area for sale. For example, if there’s a home exactly like yours on the market, but that one has a brand new roof, the agent may suggest replacing yours. But, you don’t necessarily have to make expensive repairs if you don’t want to — you could sell your home as-is. Some buyers like the idea of updating and customizing a property to exactly suit their needs. Others do not want to incur costly repairs on day one.
This is often the underlying fear when you have doubts about selling and moving to a new location. Even if you’re staying in the same town, your block will be different, your proximity to places like the grocery store or gym will change, and you’ll have to go through the process of getting to know new neighbors. Is it a change? Yes. But, it’s not one you wouldn’t get used to. If you’re moving to a new city, the transition is obviously a bigger one. Look at it as an adventure. It’s a chance to start fresh, meet new people, find new favorite restaurants, and maybe even start a new career.
Whenever you are ready to sell your home, I would love a chance to earn your business and hope you found our honest approach to advising our clients refreshing.
Eric Slifkin, a Broker Associate, is the founder of the Slifkin Team at Keller Williams Realty. Eric and his team of experienced agents serve South Florida and the Treasure Coast, including greater Stuart, Port Saint Lucie, and the Palm Beaches.
As listing agents, we always solicit feedback from other brokers who show our properties. Contrary to what you might expect, when a buyer "passes" on your house, the reason often has more to do with first impressions rather than the home's features. Here are our top three buyer turnoffs that can be easily fixed to help get your home sold faster and for more money:
Flooring Issues
Marred wood flooring, worn carpeting, and outdated linoleum can be a huge turnoff. Buyers might take one step inside and scratch the property from their list.
Pre-existing Water Stains
Leftover water stains from old plumbing issues may mislead buyers into thinking a problem still exists. Ensure that the problem indeed is fixed, and then make any needed repairs.
Nasty Looking Grout
Discolored or cracked grout can be a turnoff- new grout can make old floors look revived.
Ask your Realtor to critique your home and point out conditions that need to be corrected. Repairing or replacing items of concern often result in a quicker sale, for more money, while recouping the cost of repairs at resale.
Eric Slifkin, a Broker Associate, is the founder of the Slifkin Team at Keller Williams Realty. Eric and his team of experienced agents serve South Florida and the Treasure Coast, including greater Stuart, Port Saint Lucie, and the Palm Beaches.
America’s Happiest Seaside Town of 2016 is on Florida’s Treasure Coast, and that location could not be more appropriate. Often referred to as a hidden gem just 45 minutes north of Palm Beach, Stuart is an Old Florida–style treasure... Read More
Selling your home? First impressions count!
When selling your home, don’t forget that the very first thing a potential buyer will see is your driveway or walkway. Be sure to make a great first impression by ensuring these important areas of your home are up to par! Maximize “curb appeal” by keeping your front lawn mowed, and driveway and walkway clean and free of cracks. You may even want to add some colorful flowers or shrubs to attract potential buyers.
“A well-built, well-maintained asphalt driveway adds curb appeal to your house,” explains Steve Fradianni of M&S Paving and Sealing Inc., in Danbury, Conn. “It’s the first impression of your home that people see and it should look as good as it could. Asphalt driveways are easy to keep free of snow and ice in the winter and relatively dirt-free in the summer. They are economical, durable and long lasting, and they are easy to maintain.”
Once potential buyers leave their car to head to the front door, the walkway begins to play an important role. That’s why it’s vital to make sure both the driveway and walkway are in tip-top shape.
Contact Eric Slifkin to buy or sell a home on the Treasure Coast.
Eric Slifkin, a Broker Associate, is the founder of the Slifkin Team at Keller Williams Realty. Eric and his team of experienced agents serve South Florida and the Treasure Coast, including greater Stuart, Port Saint Lucie, and the Palm Beaches.
