A seller can’t do anything about improving the appeal of a location-it is what it is. They can, however, put price in their favor. Sellers need to focus on what comparable homes in their area have actually sold for (not listed at). If they’re under pressure from a job transfer or expanding family, they should probably price BELOW the prevailing range. The idea is to price aggressively enough that buyers have to check them out. That brings us to condition.

Improvements that make sense to do

In today’s competitive market, sellers aren’t recouping the money they put into upgrades the way they did in the past. But there are still areas where a judicious investment will pay out with a timely sale.

Sellers should start with improving their home’s CURB APPEAL. Today, sellers are finding out that anything they do to make the outside of their property look terrific is money well spent. Ideally, people should fall in love with a home between the car and the front door. New windows, doors and siding will help a home look crisp and well cared for from the street. They also make the home more ENERGY EFFICIENT, a big plus in today’s market. Just having freshly painted trim and new hardware go a long way to making a great first impression.

Sprucing up LANDSCAPING is also important today-especially for an older home. Well-trimmed trees and shrubs can do a lot help older homes compete against new ones with sparse foliage.

Inside and out, any repairs the seller has begun must be completed. An unfinished repair usually looks worse than the untreated problem. Inside, sellers should freshen up paint, clear out clutter and hire a professional stager. These things give the impression a home is well taken care of. STAGING doesn’t really cost a lot-smart sellers look at it like having a car detailed.

Anticipate buyer’s mindset

For repairs or upgrades most buyers will want to make, advise the seller to get CONTRACTOR ESTIMATES for the improvement and present them to interested prospects. You might even suggest the seller HIRE A HOME INSPECTOR before they list, make the essential repairs and show the receipts to serious buyers. Many home inspection companies (like WIN Home Inspection Network: www.wini.com) even offer a free 90-day no deductible home warranty in conjunction with using their services for Nashville homes for sale (check with your local rep for confirmation of services offered).

Sellers should also consider projects that can lower insurance premiums. Electrical and plumbing upgrades may cut rates. If a roof needs replacing, have sellers check with their insurer about discounts for wind, hail and fire-resistant roofing. The same may be true for burglar and fire alarm systems.

Some improvements have regional appeal. In the West and Southwest, after a few seasons of extreme weather, homes with backup power generators got very attractive. Homes with steel replacement roofs are now popular in parts of California subject to wildfires. In tech savvy regions, “wired” homes with broadband access already installed have extra pull.

The goal is to create POSITIVE BUZZ around a listing. The ideas I’ve shared here are the ones that seem to be working to create that “buzz” in the market today.

First, you may want to consider lowering the price of your home. This truly makes your home much more desirable than any other home out there with the same criteria.

Second, if option number is not an option, go through the house and see if there are any cosmetic defects that you might have missed that need to be repaired. The buyer certainly needs to be nothing but ‘wowed’ when they walk in the door. Sure, any house can be clean from top to bottom, but are there any small things that will stand out to your buyers as a needed repair? If so, take care of them before you list your home for sale and if it’s already listed, stop reading this and take care of them now.

Third, make sure you list your home with the right agent. Choosing the right Realtor is like going to court with an amazing lawyer – you know you have a better chance of winning! For the same price, agents can give many, many varieties of service. Make sure you choose one that is experienced, available on your schedule, is organized and truly wants nothing more than to help you, their client. Hmmm…sounds like me! Give me a call if you want the best service in Nashville!

Finally, if all else fails and you have the option to do so, pull your home from the market and wait for the market to improve. Sometimes having it off the market for a while can give a fresh perspective when it comes back on.

I hope some or all of this helps!! Good luck and happy selling!!

# Standard of Practice 12-10

REALTORS®’ obligation to present a true picture in their advertising and representations to the public includes the URLs and domain names they use, and prohibits REALTORS® from:

1. engaging in deceptive or unauthorized framing of real estate brokerage websites;

2. manipulating (e.g., presenting content developed by others) listing content in any way that produces a deceptive or misleading result; or

3. deceptively using metatags, keywords or other devices/methods to direct, drive, or divert Internet traffic, or to otherwise mislead consumers. (Adopted 1/07)

In most recent events there have been some ethics complaints filed with local Associations of Realtors across the country on Realtors who have websites that contain the letters MLS in the URL; for example, www.citynameMLS.com. A friend, colleague and competitor of mine has been the target of one of these complaints and I’m interested to hear both Realtors thoughts and consumers thoughts on this. As a Realtor who supports fair trade, I personally disagree with the notion of taking down a site merely because it contained the letters MLS in the URL. There are Realtors out there including myself who have invested not only years worth of time building and promoting our sites, but thousands of dollars as well so that the public could have a choice. I feel that these ethics complaints only hurt Realtors in general as this could push to the forefront those sites that are not Realtor owned which contain the letters MLS in their URL or who advertise the MLS and are able to get around the ruling by NAR since they do not belong to the National Association of Realtors. I became a “Realtor” as opposed to just being a real estate agent because I feel strongly about ethics. It would be an injustice to consumers to take sites down merely because they have the letters MLS in their site especially if the website clearly contained all of the disclaimers that it needs to; ie., displaying the brokerage name and contact information, the Realtors name, license number and contact information, and that the site was not an official site of the MLS but merely a site that uses the data from the MLS which each participating brokerage has agreed to to get listings out to world. This is called broker reciprocity by way of IDX (Internet Data Exchange) and only the listings from brokers who have agreed to participate are displayed. According to the Middle Tennessee Regional MLS 99.5% of all MLS listings are included in the IDX listings. That’s nearly every MLS listing available which means that most brokers WANT their listings on as many sites as they can get them on because this only helps in advertising for their clients, the sellers. If you were/are a Seller, wouldn’t you want your home listed everywhere it could be to gain maximum exposure?

I have found that the majority of consumers looking for real estate realize that most websites are operated by Realtors and quite frankly they find it refreshing to be able to obtain the information they are looking for because our sites are so user friendly and information rich not only to the degree of listings but also about the communities we serve. The official MLS site does serve the consumer well when it comes to displaying listings, but try to find a tip about a great restaurant to go to or learn about events going on in the area, there are none. What if you are unsure about what a particular city or suburb has to offer? You can’t find that on the MLS site either. You would have to leave that site and go to a site such as ours. So why not just get everything you need from one site?

This isn’t about consumer complaints because to my knowledge there are none. In my humble opinion, I believe this is about other Realtors out there trying to take unfair advantage of a ruling to better serve their own personal interests. Would I like to see my site at the number one position for all relevant search terms about Nashville real estate and become the greatest real estate agent in the world? Absolutely… but not by doing it unfairly. If you are good at what you do and your website is relevant, you won’t have to use deceptive tactics to gain a better position. May the best sites win, whatever they’re called.

Some friends and clients of mine were visiting from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. One of their “required” stops on each visit is Margot Cafe’ and Bar. We were lucky enough to be seated on the porch. It’s an outdoor area when it’s warm but they had the area covered and supplied with heaters. It was quite cozy. Did I mention charming?

The evening started out with a very personable server, Emily. She had the entire porch area so she could focus only on those dining out there. She also was able to place our orders without leaving this area so she was very attentive. This young lady was precious and very knowledgeable about Margot’s menu. I enjoyed a first course of market lettuces with apples, walnuts, gorgonzola and cider vinaigrette. The first courses are just the right size and ohh so tasty!

NEXT! My second course was the Grilled Painted Hills Ribeye with Roasted Potatoes, Green Beans and Mushroom Demi. Cooked to a perfect medium rare. Emeril would give this second course a BIG FAT “BAM!”

Okay, I was bragging about our server, Emily. That is until she had the nerve to return and persuade us in trying not one, but TWO desserts. It’s always the skinny ones that twist our arms to feed our faces, right?

Hmmmmmmmmmm. Which one was better? The Meyer Lemon Pound Cake w/homemade icing or the Chocolate Fudge Cake? I’d normally say the Chocolate Fudge Cake but it had been so long since I’d had my Grandma’s homemade Lemon Pound Cake that it took #1! My 96 year old grandmother recently moved to an assisted living facility and she doesn’t have a stove in her apartment. I ordered her a piece of Margot’s Lemon Pound Cake to go. Needless to say, this made her year!

Emily redeemed herself until she returned and asked if we’d like an after dinner drink. I think the looks on our chubby stuffed little faces inspired Emily to quickly bring the check. Well worth every dime. I clearly see why Margot is one of Nashville’s favorites!

Have you ever been house hunting and, by simply looking at the exterior of the house, you do not even want to go inside? Having an immediate “un-appeal” can be devastating whether you are buying or selling. As an agent, I may know the inside of the home shows much better than it’s exterior, but, more times than not, you can’t convince your buyer to to spend the time to even go inside.

So, sellers, here are some quick and inexpensive tips to help you lure that buyer through your front door and to the closing table!

-Garage Doors: Paint, stain or even replace garage doors as needed. Believe it or not, these doors can be quite an eye-sore if left unattended.

-Exterior Light Fixtures: Change any and all outdated exterior light fixtures and make sure each and every one has a working light bulb for evening showings.

-Driveway: Professionally patch any large holes or cracks in your driveway or even get the driveway re-sealed. You want to make the buyer feel that they can drive the moving truck in with ease!

-Landscaping: Update your landscaping beds according to the season if they aren’t already. Trim all bushes and trees on the lot as needed. The buyer already has enough to do when they move in, the last thing they want to do is landscape!

-Overall Home Exterior: If the house is sided, get it power-washed to make it sparkle. Paint the window shutters if needed and make sure they are not hanging crooked. Clean up any toys and equipment from the yard and store neatly in the garage for the time being.

I know some of these things might seem a bit far-fetched and unimportant, but do keep in mind that most home buyers can’t visualize these changes and slight clean-ups, and the ones who can visualize it will be looking for a reduced price. With all this said, sellers and agents have a common goal; to sell your house at top dollar and as quickly as possible, right? Making simple changes like these can make the home more appealing and inviting to everyone who comes to see it and, in turn, makes your life, the seller, much, much easier! Happy cleaning!

“What’s the best way to find a lender?” It’s one of the most frequently asked questions by buyers in today’s market! As you start searching for your next home, you should always surround yourself with people whom you trust and know without a doubt will take care of things as they arise and in an appropriate manner.

So, you have a Realtor whom you trust but no loan officer? Not to worry one bit! I, personally, always recommend to my clients a list of three to four loan officers that I have used in the past and have had great experiences with. I know that each and every loan officer on my list will take great care of my clients and their next home purchase. It’s best to not surf around on the internet and find an officer whom has no tie to you, your needs or your Realtor. To them, you’re just another loan to service and just another name on a file.

Obviously, the downfalls of choosing a loan officer at random can truly be devastating. Your needs as a buyer can be easily overlooked, your personal time lines to move can be disregarded and your financing rates can even be higher than what you should be getting. All of this could possibly happen due to you being ‘just another loan to process’ to this loan officer.

My recommendation from personal experience is choosing to go with a loan officer that someone strongly recommends whether it’s your Realtor, your parents or your best friend. It truly can be more beneficial than you could ever imagine! I, as a Realtor here in Nashville, personally have loan officers that will push for documents harder, will decrease waiting time and will also provide the best service and price to my clients. All this because I have established a great relationship with these loan officers. But I always recommend getting at least 2 to 3 quotes even if it’s from the loan officers I recommend to make sure they are staying on the competitive edge.

In short, do not be afraid to use a recommended loan officer…but DO be afraid to use one where you are just another file in a drawer! Happy buying!

Here are a few pointers to help you and consider when you are about to put your home on the market that may make your sale of your home much easier, faster and more appealing to buyers:

1) Detach yourself from your own home and look at it through the eyes of a perspective buyer. Determine what needs to be cleaned, painted, repaired and/or tossed out.

2) Ask yourself: What would I want to see if I was interested in buying this home? Not only would you want to see a clean home, but also a home that maximizes space — which is very ideal and cozy.

3) De-clutter, de-clutter, and de-clutter! I can’t say it enough! Although you might have some very interesting nick-knacks from trips you have taken or some wonderful kid-made items on display in your home, it’s your house that is for sale and should be the featured ‘item’ on display, not the trinkets. So, de-clutter that house! Pack things up and store them neatly in the garage or even rent a storage unit for a month or two. It is guaranteed to help the sale of your home and you will see any and all money as a return on your investment when your home sells quicker than the one down the street!

4) Finally, talk with your Realtor before you list your home on the market. He or she might have some professional advice on how to attract the most buyers (demand for your home) as possible. Be very open when it comes to their opinion as well – after all, they are the professional and have a trained eye to help your home move quickly through the market!

While your home might have a short or long laundry list of things to do to get it ready for the market, know that completing each task will pay off big time in the end. Take pride in the repairs you make, the paint you put on the walls and the packing up you do. Ideally, you want your home to be competitive in the market, which will turn into a quick sale and a profitable one for you, the owner!

When’s the last time you’ve gone into a little diner where a big haired, gum chewin’ lady asks, “What can I get for you, Hun?”

That’s what I thought. This no frills little place in the curve of Sylvan Park has had little or no updating. It still has it’s old school diner table and chairs. It still has the lacy curtains you’d see in your grandma’s house(depending on how hip your grandma is) and the servers still use the little green guest checks.

I have a girlfriend who’s a crab cake snob and she loves the crab cakes. On the other hand, I favor the fried chicken and I have the hips to show it. Even if you don’t like turnip greens, theirs may change your mind.

Aside from the atmosphere being EXTREMELY laid back and comfortable, the food will make you want to smack your Mama(we don’t recommend that). Run, don’t walk, to Sylvan Park Restaurant………across from McCabe Golf Course.

Calling ahead to find out if it’s “Fried Chicken Day” is strongly recommended.

What’s most important is to consider your priorities with your home search. If you can’t get a home at your price with all the features you want, then what is of most importance to you? For example, would you trade your location to have the home you desire? Would you take fewer bedrooms to have a larger living space? Also, don’t forget to consider your future too – you might need a larger home in a few years for your growing family.

Finding your home may seem like digging through a haystack for a needle at times but with the right Realtor, this process can be guided along smoothly. Some buyers like to search online, in newspapers and through neighborhoods on their own while other buyers would prefer their Realtor send them listings that he or she might feel is something you are looking for. Whichever you prefer, keep the most important thing in mind – YOUR priorities in your next home. Good luck, have fun and happy hunting!

Getting pre-approved for a loan means just what you think it does – that you have met with a loan officer, you credit scores have been reviewed and it is believed that you can qualify for a given loan amount with at least one or more mortgage products available. From this, you will be able to provide the owner of your dream home with a letter stating you have already started your loan process and that you qualify for a loan. This is important as a buyer because it shows your ability to complete the purchase of the home since an owner of a home does not want to accept an offer and take the home off the market where financing might not be obtained by the buyer.

Finding the right loan officer for you is also important too. You will need someone who is professional but also understands your financial situation. If you don’t know where to start in finding a loan officer, you may even rely on your Realtor to give you a recommendation for the perfect fit for you. After all, your Realtor works with him or her on a daily basis as well. No matter what, and even though it might seem like a frightening process if this is your first time, just make sure you work with representatives you trust and feel comfortable with – the rest will naturally fall into place.