Let’s face it, most of us do not have “vision” when it comes to imaging another home as our own. As a home buyer, you appreciate seeing a potential home that’s gets you excited and makes your heart pound, right?
As a home seller you want to put your best foot forward to help your buyers view your house at the absolute top value you feel it’s worth, right?
It’s emotional!
I can list the statistics from the National Association of Realtors and other organizations that have documented the value of home staging because it has resulted in homes selling for the highest possible price in the least amount of time. I know you’ve seen the data. But what is it about staging that makes the difference? It’s emotional! And people make real decisions based on emotion. (There are studies documenting this point as well.)
When you approach the house and when you walk in, you feel an instant WOW! The feeling is fresh, clean, light and bright. Something about the space draws you in. You notice the fabulous views, elegant fireplace, perfect lighting, spacious rooms, and seamless flow! You are not distracted by personal photos and belongings, evidence of pets, extreme wall colors, oppressive and excessive furnishings or other obstructions. You simply feel an easy flow and a fabulous vibe, maybe even some passion!
Browse the photos above, and see how you feel!
Here’s what one of my clients had to say,
The suggestion of “staging” was something I hadn’t thought of, but after being introduced to the idea, I went with it and was amazed by the change it brought to my home. It was magnificent!!!
Browse through some of the before and after photos by clicking the image above, and see how you feel!
Reach out to me below with comments or questions about your plans. Want a quick estimate of your home’s value in the current market? Click here.
Click to view Instagram Reel! Linda & happy client who sold two condos in NY & bought a house in CT!
A new home would be great, but how do you get there?
Curious what your home is worth? If you’ve been thinking about the huge decision of making a move right now, you’re not alone, and I can relate to the challenges you and so many others are facing. You’re wondering how you can coordinate the timing between buying and selling, how you will find your new home, how you will be able to get your house ready for the market. And what about the shifting market trends and interest rates? Should you be waiting for a housing market crash?
It’s completely understandable to have concerns
Most people who decided to make a move had many of these worries when they started too. I went though a challenging home purchase myself before I was a Realtor. Believe me, I’ve been there! If you’re curious, you can see the story of my first home purchase as shared with the Fairfield Coastal Neighbors Magazine. The truth is that uncertainty is always going to be a reality, and we need to embrace that in order to move forward. It is impossible to time the market, but you can control your plans and goals. Here are four tips on how to get to your new home.
1: Focus on your why
If you’re thinking about selling your current home and buying a new one, you undoubtably have significant reasons that go far deeper just having a new house. Do you need more space and privacy to give yourself peace, focus, and privacy? Do you still work from home, or need to accommodate an extended family? Have your “little ones” gone off to college and now you want to scale down and invest your proceeds into other assets, or invest in the lifestyle your dreams? Maybe you’ve been dreaming about exciting travel plans! Do you need to be closer to your family? Closer to your job?
2. Commit to your quality of life
Once you are clear on your important reasons for making a change and that this is the ideal time for you to make this change, it is time to commit. It’s time to pursue this lifestyle that you yearn for and deserve. Once you commit in your heart and your mind that you want these changes for yourself and you want them now, everything else will fall into place!
3. Trust the process
When you talk through your dreams with your agent and explain your important why’s, they will have the resources and experience to guide you toward your destination. As I had mentioned during my interview with the Fairfield HamletHub, William Raveis has developed new tools to eliminate many of the roadblocks to being able to sell and move quickly in the current market. Here are some of my client’s stories. Kelly and Steve made the move from their childhood home after dreaming about it for years. Dave and Suzanne sold their home, then found their dream home, obtaining temporary housing and storage in the interim. Wolf and Marianna did some soul searching and then made the commitment to themselves to pursue their new lifestyle. They listed their house and got a contract on it while they shopped for their new one. They were able to coordinate their closings and step right into their new home and new beginning!
4. There’s no such thing as perfect, here’s how you don’t miss out!
People who have made a successful move have found the home that meets their top priority needs and wants. Once you’ve decided to move forward, the key is to find the new home that provides about eight out of 10 of your key wishlist items. These wishlist items should be tied to your most important reasons for moving, the ones that impact your quality of life. Be careful not to rule out homes due to things that can easily be changed over time, especially in a low-inventory market. Remember the real reasons you are pursuing this huge transition. If price is one of the items that extends beyond your wishlist, this would be the time to consult with your lender to see if extending your budget is realistic for you. Remember that home appreciation is forecast to continue for another five years at least, so you can gain equity right away. There is no such thing as a 100% perfect home. Believe it or not, even people who pay for a custom designed and built home find a list of things they would have done differently in retrospect. So use the 80% rule to zoom in on your key impact priorities so that you don’t miss out for the wrong reasons.
The rest is history
In my case, my husband and I had lost a few before landing what was ultimately our first choice. And, yep, we bought at the height of the market in 2004. But we never labored about the decision because it was a lifestyle choice, not a stock market trade or casino move. We have absolutely loved life here over the past 18 years! And as it turns out, our home has continued to grow in value. Our interest rate was higher, but we since refinanced. I then became a Realtor, and the rest is history…until we decide to move again to our next new home!
One of the challenges buyers are facing, along with would-be sellers, is that they can’t find what they are looking for on the market.
Many agents are sharing the criteria their buyers are looking for with the hope that someone who is thinking of selling may have a match to add to the market.
Here is my urgent buyer wish list,
Westport – New or contemporary style, ~4,000 square feet, 4+ bedrooms, $1,500,000-$1,800,000, (Need two of these!)
Westport – Renovation project or tear-down, 1+ acres, preferably with no wetlands, price flexible.
Westport – Renovation project or tear-down, any property size, preferably with no wetlands, price flexible.
Fairfield – Beach, town, Southport, or University areas, new or like-new home, 4,000 square feet, up to $1,700,000.
Fairfield – Home with charm and character, preferably in the beach area, but open to anywhere in town, 3+ bedrooms, at least 1,400 square feet or room to expand, $700,000-$850,000.
Fairfield – Home with charm and character, high ceilings, preferably in the beach area, center of town or Stratfield areas, 3+ bedrooms, at least 1,400 square feet or room to expand, finishable basement and/or attic, office space, level yard of .16 acres or more, $500,000-$640,000.
Fairfield – Beach area, near Penfield, .23+ acres on which to renovate or build new, under $700,000.
Fairfield – Town center, new or move-in ready 2-bedroom condo for rent, or sale up to $350,000.
New Canaan – Walk-to-train location, 3 bedrooms, preferably new or move-in ready, high ceilings, up to $1,500,000.
If a matching property is found for the buyer needs above, the following new listings will in turn be added to the market,
Westport – Gorgeous new construction home, likely with 4,000+ square feet and 5 bedrooms.
Westport – ANOTHER gorgeous new construction home, likely with 4,000+ square feet and 5 bedrooms.
Westport – Lovely 4-bedroom, move-in-ready home with lovely property in the Greens Farms area.
Fairfield – Charming cape in the beach area.
The lack of inventory is limiting the market despite the opportunity of very low interest rates and an excellent time to sell for all interested home owners.
So if you have something, say something! 😃 If you know of something, say something! 😃 Want to talk options? Say something. I’m here to help, 203.912.4440.
Your home has been just perfect with plenty of space for you and all your needs…until now.
But since the pandemic you may be finding that you, and possibly your family members, have very different needs. This challenging time has certainly given you opportunity to test and evaluate how well your home is serving your changing demands. If you have transitioned to working from home, and may even be alongside your students doing the same, your need for extra space may have become increasingly obvious.
Now you may be wishing you had extra rooms for his and her offices, a homework space, and room for a home gym. If you’re coming from the Manhattan or Brooklyn areas, you are likely craving not just interior rooms, but outdoor space, beauty, privacy and peacefulness. The vicinity to downtown centers and train stations may not be as important as it once was now that the need for frequent commuting is likely a thing of the past.
On the flip side, perhaps your family has college students who have been off to school or will soon be graduating and leaving extra un-wanted space. This would be a prime time to make a move to a better-fitting home. Selling your too-much-space house would also free up your larger home for the many of you who in dire need of more space.
Whether you are feeling too close for comfort or a need to scale back, the current housing market with ultra-low inventory and high demand is beyond prime for sellers, and the current low interest rates also offer a huge opportunity to make a purchase. Feel free to set up your own search here if you would like to peek at market activity near you. Reach out to me anytime if would like to know your options for making a move and want to know what your home is worth in the current market.
If a move is on your horizon this year, you can set up your own search here to browse the market. Reach out to me anytime with questions or to discuss your plans. Call 203.912.4440, visit my website, or send a note in the form below.
Buyers’ first impressions happen within seconds of seeing a home. After one glance from the street, a buyer may decide not to even go in! So staging starts at the curb and continues throughout the house. Staging is a marketing tool focused on the buyer. Its goal is to attract the most buyers online and create an emotional connection for them once they are inside. Think about how you would have your car washed and detailed so that it looks showroom ready before trying to sell it. Staging is a similar approach, but the goal is to appear better than new! The house not only sparkles and shines, its assets are highlighted, its best use of space is demonstrated, disadvantages are downplayed and then the senses are tapped to maximize the home’s allure. Key elements of staging:
Eliminate clutter to create clean visual lines and show off the space.
Frame and showcase the home’s assets such as a fireplace or great view.
Downplay shortcomings of a home such as an undesirable view, tight space or low light.
Enable buyers to envision themselves living in the home by removing all distractions. The buyer should not know anything about the seller’s personal preferences in extreme color, art, decorating, religion, race, sexual and political orientation, hobbies, etc. These factors are very distracting to a buyer, irrelevant to the sale and should not be seen.
Every inch is cleaned to sparkle and smell like new. Strong odors from cooking, pets, smoking, mildew and general lack of cleanliness will instantly turn buyers away.
Appeal to the emotional power in our sense of smell, and simmer spiced cider on the stove, burn a scented candle or brew fresh coffee.
Play soft pleasant music in the background to further suggest an inviting home.
Let the sun shine in all the windows and the lights glow for the brightest space.
Overall, create a neutral but charming and welcoming space.
Your Realtor may recommend a professional staging company or just a few staging tips that he or she can help you with depending on the size of your home and how much work is needed to achieve your desired outcome. Either way, launching a staging strategy for your buyers and pricing your house to sell will get you the edge on your competition, reduce the cost of a potential price reduction and extra months on the market and get you the best possible outcome from your sale. I’m happy to talk with you about staging resources and tips and your moving plans!
We sure have been hit hard with winter extremes since the New Year with everything from sub-zero temperatures to multiple blizzards and some freezing rain mixed in for good measure! No doubt the weather has been keeping our spring real estate market at bay, but how did sales look in our neighborhood markets in January after the holidays?
Let’s take a look at a few measures across three towns, and see how they relate to last year. Comparing the number of homes on the market, total sales and the average market time in January, we see some promising numbers. View or print charts here.
In Weston, Westport and Fairfield inventory of homes for sale was up between nine and twenty-two percent suggesting stronger seller confidence in the market this year. Sales in fact, were way up in Weston (50%) and Fairfield (42%) compared to January 2013. Westport sales were down twenty-two percent, but there had been a big spike in the December sales. The average days on market was way down (-40%) in Westport, though up a bit in Weston and Fairfield (5% and 12% respectively).
Overall, the increased inventory and sales in addition to average market time as low as 80 days in Westport, suggest to me that there is pent up demand on both the buy and sell sides of the market. It would be great to see the market jump up to the pace noted in my post from last June. I expect to see a flurry of activity in the housing market instead of snow as soon as Mother Nature decides to get the weather under control!
Sharing her wisdom as a guest speaker at our sales meeting this month was Tracy A. Becker, President of NorthShoreAdvisory, a Credit Education & Restoration Company. This company is one of the very reputable firms out there to help us understand the credit mysteries and improve our scores. Tracy is a Certified FICO Professional, author of two books on credit and is the “Credit Expert” on the Eye on Real Estate radio show on WOR AM.
She began the meeting by announcing that, “If your credit score is not 740 or higher, it is not excellent and you should call me.” I was thinking, what’s wrong with Very Good, Impressive, or Decent? Anything short of excellent is no good these days? Apparently it best be excellent or you can potentially lose thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars on a mortgage with higher interest rates. Some sources even say that insurance premiums are linked to credit scores.
We all know that we should pay our bills on time, but there is a lot more that most of us are unaware of that impacts our credit score.
Here are the top 5 tips from Tracy that I was surprised to learn,
1. “Seasoned” credit (over 2 years old) is excellent for your scores, and the older the better. So don’t go closing your old credit card accounts!
2. A variety of credit is good for your score such as credit cards, auto loans, student loans and a mortgage.
3. Your credit can be pulled by third parties up to 5 times in a 12-month period with little impact to your score, but beyond this, your score can drop 30-40 points. You can pull your own credit score as often as you wish with no negative consequences.
4. A new late payment can drop your score over 100 points.
5. The higher your FICO score, the bigger the hit your score will take if new negative information is added.
If you are getting ready to apply for a mortgage or other financing in the near future, Tracy says to go to Credit.com and pay to get your FICO score. If it’s below 740, her company may be able to help save you big bucks! She gives free consultations by phone to determine whether her company can effectively help you, and there is no charge unless you hire her.
To receive pdf via email of Tracy’s expanded list of “Tips on Credit” send a request below.
Fairfield and Westport CT Real Estate Guide 
