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Aug 30, 2008
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Setting the stage for a successful house sale |
| | Posted on Monday, January 07, 2008 | | | By Julia Boyle
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE
Joanne Carroll’s condo was on the market for a week before it sold and she moved to Oak Crest.
In a market where homes sit for an average of 60 to 120 days before an offer, Carroll’s story sounds miraculous. But in reality, success is common when sellers have the right tools.
Little things make a big difference
"I had a very good Realtor who made suggestions on how to make my home look its best," Carroll says.
In a conservative housing market, little things like "staging," or sprucing up the interior of a home to reflect what a potential buyer wants to see, can help sell your house quickly and for the most money possible. And while the market in the Baltimore area is relatively robust compared with other parts of the country, it never hurts to make your house more attractive.
Like many homeowners, Carroll was unfamiliar with the process of staging. Her Realtor took care of that for her.
"My Realtor helped make sure my house was clean, clutter-free, and had few—if any—personal items like photos around, so people could imagine their own things in each room," Carroll says.
"I packed up items I knew I would be taking with me to my new home at Oak Crest and stored those boxes at my niece’s. There were no boxes sitting around, and my closets appeared more spacious because they had less stuff in them," she adds.
Carroll also says that one of the most successful selling tools her Realtor used was the Internet: "She posted photographs of my home immediately on the Web, and I think that made the biggest difference."
Power of the picture
According to the 2006 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 80% of buyers use the Internet in their search for a home. Penny Noval, a Realtor for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage of Timonium, says because the Internet gives more exposure to a property, this increases the importance of posting quality photos. | |
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"It’s always been important for a house to show well and for you to do any needed maintenance, cleaning, weeding, and de-cluttering. But now, with the presence of the Internet, those things are even more important because people are making a decision from their computer in their own home about whether or not they’re even going to walk in your door," Noval says.
Staging helps prepare a home for good photographs. "Staging is a huge advantage, and a good Realtor or professional stager knows the kinds of things that should be taken out of a house and the things that should stay. They will be able to tell you, ‘This is going to hurt you, and this is going to help you,’" she says.
Oak Crest Retirement Counselor JoAnn Huebler refers many prospective residents to Noval, who has more than 30 years of experience as a Baltimore County-area agent. Over the years, Noval estimates she has helped between 25 and 30 people move to either Oak Crest or Charlestown.
Consultants take the pressure off
"Using a qualified, competent real estate professional can make the difference between selling your house in two weeks, two months, or more," Huebler says.
Steffany Byers, retirement counselor at Charlestown, says, "It’s a worthwhile investment. I hear that a lot from people who sell their home with the help of an agent or stager; they are able to move to Charlestown, while their neighbors are still waiting to sell their house."
Laurie Bender (Oak Crest’s move-in coordinator) and Nancy McNeal (Charlestown’s move-in coordinator) find qualified professionals—whether it’s a reliable real estate agent, a trusted repairman, or a dependable moving company—for people moving to these communities.
"We do whatever we have to do to make it an easier transition, because even though people are selling their houses in this market, it’s not as easy as it was a few years ago," Bender says.
"By helping with things like finding an agent who will also stage the home, it takes some of the pressure and the stress off of the person who is moving," McNeal adds. "We are here for them every step of the way until they feel settled and comfortable in their new home."
Finding the perfect new home
Carroll says Huebler and Bender helped her not only through the moving process, but also in finding the perfect new home at Oak Crest.
"I had originally wanted a one bedroom home with a den, but when I toured the models and saw the one bedroom with a patio, I changed my mind. I knew it would be perfect for my dog, Honey," Carroll says.
When Huebler heard of Carroll’s request, she knew of just the one. And because Carroll was on the Priority List, which holds a person’s spot in line for the home of their choice, she was able to move in right away.
"It was very providential and worked out perfectly, since my condo sold so quickly," Carroll says. "The people in the sales office are extremely helpful…now, after just a month, I’m settled in at my new home where I have wonderful places to walk my dog, and I’m not still worrying about selling my condo."
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| Ann's Choice - Warminster, PA | | Brooksby Village - Peabody, MA | | Cedar Crest - Pompton Plains, NJ | | Charlestown - Catonsville, MD | | Eagle's Trace - Houston, TX | | Fox Run - Novi, MI | | Greenspring - Springfield, VA | | Henry Ford Village - Dearborn, MI | | Hickory Chase - Hilliard, OH | | Highland Springs - Dallas, TX | | Linden Ponds - Hingham, MA | | Maris Grove - Concord, PA | | Monarch Landing - Naperville, IL | | Oak Crest - Parkville, MD | | Riderwood - Silver Spring, MD | | Seabrook - Tinton Falls, NJ | | Sedgebrook - Lincolnshire, IL | | Tallgrass Creek - Overland Park, KS | | Wind Crest - Denver, CO |
| Windsor Run - Charlotte, NC |
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