Author: Melinda Bartling

Reasons Why Your House Isn’t Selling

There may be many reasons why your house isn’t selling but I will share with you the only 3 that matter.

Years ago, Fortune Magazine stated that a house will sell for 3 reasons: the price, the way it was or wasn’t staged and the Realtor you choose. As a lifelong Realtor and Home Stager, nothing else matters. Let’s look at each of those 3 factors in depth.

  1. Price: One of the most significant factors affecting the sale of a house is the price. If your house is overpriced compared to similar properties in the area, it may discourage potential buyers from showing interest in your home. Many sellers want to start high to leave room for negotiation. Why? Start at the right price and drive the price up rather than negotiate it down. Even if your home is in a lousy location or next door to a hoarder, price fixes everything. It always has and always will.
  2. Staging a home and preparing it for the market is crucial for a fast sale and oftentimes with multiple offers. Within 10 seconds of opening the front door, buyers will make a decision about your house. If your house doesn’t grab them emotionally from the start, you probably won’t sell your home anytime soon. Buyers make their decision about your house emotionally and justify their decision later rationally. Going hand-in-hand with home staging is the condition of your home. Selling your home is show time. Now is your time to shine.  Do what it takes to prepare your home for the market and you’ll be singing all the way to the bank. This is an emotional sale. Take advantage of it!!!

The last of the reasons why your house isn’t selling!

3. The Realtor you choose has everything to do with your transaction. From pricing, to staging, to marketing your home, if your Realtor isn’t on point, your home may not sell. When choosing a Realtor to sell your largest investment, talk to 3 agents before making a decision. I talk to sellers all the time that tell me home staging was never brought up when they talked to the Realtor they listed their home with. Then after a couple of weeks of the house not selling, home staging keeps coming up in the feedback.

Agents say things like:

  • It just didn’t wow my buyers
  • Don’t know exactly what it was but they just didn’t connect with the house
  • Might need some home staging to give it more appeal because it didn’t appeal to my buyers

Recent Home Staging Case Study

I recently received a text message from a lady whose house was on the market in Leawood. She told me her son said she needed to have her home staged after being on the market for over 2 weeks and not selling. There again, she thought home staging meant bringing furniture to a vacant house. That’s not what home staging is at all.  He told her there were people who worked with what you had to give your home a better home selling look. She googled home staging in Overland Park and found me. She sent me 3 messages in a short time frame (I was on an appointment) and finally told me what she wanted. After asking her a few questions via text, I looked her house up on MLS and determined it just didn’t do much for me. I responded that I could meet for a consultation the next morning and do whatever I could while I was there.

Your Home’s Photos Tell the Story

When I entered the house, it was exactly as I expected…it didn’t wow me at all. After seeing the photos online, I knew it probably had potential but most of the furniture was poorly arranged. Remember, the way you live in your home and the way you sell your house are two different ways!

What Was the Solution to a Home that Didn’t Show Well?

After thinking things through, I had a discussion with her of my opinion and vision. The kitchen and hearth room area was huge and had nothing to bring them together. Little did I know, she had a free-standing kitchen island that was stashed in the garage. We brought it in the house and I went to work searching for things that could be used in the staging of it. Between the island and changing the furniture in the hearth room, it brought the space closer together rather than having what seemed like a basketball court between them.

Clearing countertops and furniture tops is never anything I recommend because that’s not what home staging is. Agents will tell you to do that because they aren’t home stagers and it’s less expensive than hiring a stager. But at the end of the day, buyers want to see themselves living in your home and when it’s cleared of all of its personality, they don’t connect with it.

Since this seller had put all of her accessories away, I got them out to stage her kitchen. I ended up creating a coffee station, lemonade area, as well as a meal prep space on the island. Unfortunately in preparing her home for sale, she had stripped it of its personality. But it had a huge personality by the time I left. I was there for 2 hours and got the job done. Needless to say, we were both thrilled with the end result and she hugged me as I left:).

Happy Client Testimonial

Here’s what she had to say after we rearranged the furniture in her living room and hearth room/kitchen area and accessorized her house.

“Melinda did an outstanding job of giving my home a whole new look in just 2 hours. Amazing what she could accomplish by rearranging my furniture and using just what was in my cupboards. She responded quickly, communicated often and was easy to work with. I highly recommend her services.”

One happy seller name withheld since it wasn’t my listing

There may be many reasons why your house isn’t selling but these are the only 3 that matter. Figure out your situation and address it now. Days on the market are a killer for anybody selling a house. Buyers are wondering why no one has bought it!!!

In Conclusion

Don’t waste time sitting around wondering about the reasons why your house isn’t selling. It may need a little furniture rearranging or personality boost. Please text (913) 515-3250 and tell me you need some home staging and I’ll respond immediately or you can contact me here. We stage occupied homes and have been for the last 17 years! In as little as 2 hours, your home could have a whole new look.

Are you wondering if your home is priced correctly? Here’s an easy way to find out what’s going with prices in your neighborhood. Click here and enter your address and a report from the local Heartland Multiple Listing Service will be sent directly to your email!

Check out today’s new listings either below or in the sidebar. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 to see inside one of these homes. I AM NEVER TOO BUSY to show you a house. Real estate is my main hustle after 35 years! Everything else I do is bells and whistles to enhance your experience!

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(all data current as of 9/21/2023)

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The Truth about Selling Your Home to a Family Member

Selling your home to a family member can be a more straightforward process compared to selling to a stranger. Or it can be a living nightmare. However, it’s still important to approach the transaction with care and professionalism. Here are some steps to consider when selling your home to a family member:

  • First and foremost, be sure to use the services of a professional Realtor to represent you as the seller. Even though you’re selling to a family member, it’s always advisable to hire a professional that you know, like and trust. You need someone who will guide you through the legal and financial steps of the sale. This alone will help keep the family relationship intact.
  • Next, determine the fair market value of your home. You and the buyer can both conduct research to determine the current market prices for similar properties in your area. Your Realtor can provide you with comparables and offer their opinion of what your house should sell for. If you and the buyer can’t agree on a price, you could get an independent appraisal. This can help prevent potential disputes or disagreements about the home’s value.
  • Once you and the buyer agree on a price, the buyer should meet with a mortgage lender. That step will start the pre-qualification process. This will inform the buyer on how much money he will need to purchase your home. A pre-qualification letter will show you proof that he is qualified to purchase the home.

Next Steps to Selling Your Home to a Family Member

  • Your Realtor can draft the sales contract once the buyer is pre-qualified. That contract will outline the terms and conditions of the agreement. It will include the agreed-upon sales price, payment terms, any contingencies and a closing date for completing the transaction. Also included will be other necessary paperwork such as property disclosures, and Realtor related forms needed to complete the sale and keep everyone compliant with the transaction.
  • The next steps would be for the buyer to hire professional inspectors for any inspections he wants to have. This includes an overall whole house inspection and a termite inspection. Also to be considered would be any specialty inspections such as chimney, septic, sewer line, etc. Any repairs would be negotiated after the inspections are completed. The process of things could be different of course, depending on what part of the country you live in and how real estate works where you are.
  • Once you’ve negotiated your repairs and come to an agreement, the lender will typically order the appraisal. This will actually determine the actual value of your home. Hopefully the house appraises and you can move on to completing the sale and the closing process. Closing typically involves signing the necessary documents, transferring ownership and transferring funds.

In Conclusion

Buying and selling a house involve a million other little steps. For that reason, while selling your home to a family member can be more comfortable to you in some ways, it’s absolutely crucial to approach the transaction professionally.

The right Realtor will:

  • guide you through the sale as a business deal
  • handle any issues that may arise
  • move the transaction along toward a successful closing and
  • have everything documented in writing so there are no misunderstandings.

As a result, you should be able to maintain a healthy relationship and avoid any potential conflicts within the family.

If you are considering selling your home to a family member, I would love to talk to you about how I can protect you in the process and save you time, money and frustration along the way.

If you’re curious about your home’s current value, here’s an easy way to find out what’s going with prices in your neighborhood. Click here and enter your address and a report from our local Heartland MLS will be sent directly to your email!

Check out today’s new listings either below or in the sidebar. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 to see inside one of these homes. I AM NEVER TOO BUSY to show you a house. Real estate is my main hustle after 35 years! Everything else I do is bells and whistles to enhance your experience!

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(all data current as of 9/21/2023)

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2023 Midyear Real Estate Update

Many people are wondering about the local market so I wanted to provide a 2023 midyear real estate update. Is it a good time to buy or sell real estate? In my opinion, a good time to buy or sell is when the time is right for you. Having over 35 years of real estate experience, I’ve worked in many markets. No matter what the market is doing, you will adjust to it accordingly.

Thinking of selling your home?

If you are thinking of selling, there are still plenty of buyers out there who are looking for the perfect home. They may pay a little higher in interest rates right now but they will probably not be paying thousands more than the house is worth.

Don’t get me wrong, sellers are still getting multiple offers in many price ranges but houses are selling at a price closer to the actual market value. Furthermore, many buyers have calmed down from the interest rate hikes in the last few months and know if they find the right house, they can always refinance later if rates come down.

Here’s an easy way to find out what’s going with prices in your neighborhood. Click here, enter your address and a report from our local Heartland MLS will be sent directly to your email!

Thinking of buying a home?

First of all, when it comes to buying a home, I have seen interest rates everywhere from 3 to around 12 percent. I personally purchased my first home in the early ‘80s at 16 ¾ %. Interest rates will always be what they are and there is nothing anyone can do about them. We paid 16 ¾% because I was expecting my first child and in my mind, we desperately needed a house. To me, it was just what we had to do!

Not working with a buyer’s agent?

If you aren’t working with a real estate professional to help you buy a home in today’s market, you’re missing out. The right Realtor will help educate you on the market and how to be a winning offer when looking for the perfect home to buy.

Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 for a complimentary buyer consultation.

2023 midyear real estate update

Below are the latest local statistics from Heartland MLS that were reported in April, 2023 for the Greater Kansas City area:

Check out today’s new listings either below or in the sidebar. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 or contact me here to see inside one of these homes. I AM NEVER TOO BUSY to show you a house. Real estate is my main hustle after 35 years! Everything else I do is bells and whistles to enhance your experience!

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(all data current as of 9/21/2023)

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2023 Kansas City Spring Parade of Homes

The 2023 Kansas City Spring Parade of Homes will run from April 29th through  Sunday, May 14th. This year there are 340 homes featuring 117 builders and priced from $270,000 to over $2 million dollars.

There are also 32 maintenance provided communities to visit this year which tells me there are lots of baby boomers making move!

The parade is designed for home buyers to see the top new homes, learn about premier builders and visit different communities. The houses are open daily from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and the admission is FREE!

Start your 2023 Kansas City Spring Parade of Homes at any new home subdivision and pick up a guide there. Or you can search for homes on tour by downloading the mobile app, saving your favorites and routing your plan from there.

How will the 2023 Kansas City Spring Parade of Homes inspire you?

Looking at new homes is part of what I do every day. I absolutely love new construction. If you’re like me and also love interior design, be sure to visit some of the new home subdivisions during the 2023 Kansas City Spring Parade of Homes and wander through the furnished homes.

Colorful kitchens will be a big part of what’s new in kitchen design. You’ll see lots of blues, greens and browns this year.

You’ll either fall in love or go home and be content with what you have. Who knows, you might get some new inspiration to incorporate into your current home. I love getting fresh ideas from the new home designers. It’s always fun to see the latest trends and how you can incorporate them into your own home!

You DO need a buyer’s agent for new construction

Please have a buyer’s agent represent you when building or buying a new home. The builder pays for you to be represented so it doesn’t cost you to have representation but can really cost you if you don’t. It’s your protection against the “what ifs.” The agents working at the subdivision work for the builders. They are looking out for their best interests. Without your own buyer representation, you don’t have anyone looking out for your best interests during the building or completion process.

If you see a house you absolutely have to have while on the 2023 Kansas City Spring Parade of Homes or want to discuss your options with buying a new construction or spec home, call me at (913) 515-3250 or contact me here.  I’m always here to help and answer any questions.

Want to know the latest stats in your neighborhood? Don’t rely on the Zillow Zestimate. Here’s a quick tool that will research your subdivision and provide you with a report within minutes – direct from the local Multiple Listing Service. It’s fast and it’s FREE! Click here and insert your address.

Selling Your Home this Spring?

If you are seriously thinking of selling your home this spring, the time is now. Hopefully you’ve been working on it over the winter so you’ll be ready to shine like a diamond.

The real estate market has really changed so if you missed my post on selling in a changing market, you can read it here.

For the latest monthly statistics on the real estate market, check them out on my website here.

Home Selling Shopping Spree

While shopping over the weekend for fresh, new accessories for my upcoming spring listings, I went into Home Goods to see what they were featuring this spring. I’m always looking for inspiration to update my Photo Gallery of my before and after photos.

First of all, I love the feeling I get when I walk into Home Goods. They know how to get you in the mood to shop. It’s the same trick I use for all of my new listings. Home Goods and I both know we’ve got a short time to grab the buyer while they are present and either they’ll buy or they’ll move on. I call it the 10 second rule. It’s based on grabbing the buyer within 10 seconds of entering a house…or a store. Think of Costco. You can hardly put your membership card away and Costco is reminding you of something they want you to buy. January is all about exercise,vitamins and hoodies.

Home Goods is bright, full of happy music, and the colors throughout the store are outstanding. Furthermore, it’s such a pick-me-up and an incredible feeling. I love their bright cheery dishes, pillows, springtime furniture and outdoor cushions. It makes me want to buy everything in the store and give my own home a spring makeover.

I also love Home Goods for doormats and front door wreaths. They are bright, colorful, and full of life. The spring season is the best time for a change. It’s like starting over new again. In addition, you get a new lease on life and your home deserves this as much as anything. For that very reason, you will reap the benefits from your mini spring home makeover.

Stand Out from Your Competition

This week while working on a couple of houses, I thought about what would make us stand out from our competition. Both houses had substantial front porches so I decided with the new season and the energy in the air, I wanted to focus on the porch and really hone in on the curb appeal to draw people inside.

As a result, at one of the houses I added a new spring doormat, a fresh wreath and added new pillows to the homeowner’s glider. The most fabulous part of this house was the screened-in back porch! After all, who doesn’t want a porch? My buyer, Ashley, (what’s a girl to do with a pedestal sink?) bought a house with a porch and without that pedestal sink a few years ago.

Here are My 11 Best Tips for Selling Your Home this Spring

  • Paint your front door
  • Add an expensive pot filled with colorful flowers next to the door
  • Find a pretty new wreath and hang it on your front door
  • Get some new house numbers
  • Change out your mailbox (if it’s on the house) or paint it to match the color of your door
  • Add some dark mulch to your flower beds
  • Shop somewhere like Home Goods and buy a few new colorful accessories for inside
  • Buy some new pillows for your couch
  • Paint a room (or the entire interior of your house)
  • Throw out last year’s outdoor cushions and get some new brightly colored ones that will cheer you up on a daily basis
  • Buy a new umbrella for your outdoor table or buy a table if you don’t have one
  • Amen!
Perfect curb appeal

We had a cold winter in Kansas City. Therefore, it’s time to live life to the fullest and enjoy spring. Whether you’re selling your home this spring and want to create the model home look or merely dwelling and need help zinging your home into spring, you can call me direct or text me at (913) 515-3250 or get started here. Remember…the Realtor you choose determines the results you get. Choose carefully!

Start your home search here and check out today’s new listings below in Overland Park. Let me know if there is anything you’d like to see.

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(all data current as of 9/21/2023)

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

 
 

The State of the 2023 Real Estate Market

The current and predicted state of the 2023 real estate market certainly looks different than it did a year ago. Unfortunately, sellers want to sell like it’s 2022 and buyers want to buy like it’s 2008.

As everyone knows, mortgage interest rates have skyrocketed and are double what they were last year. There are mortgage companies that are closing their doors, sellers who can’t get their homes sold, and buyers who are disappointed that their dream home they didn’t get last year now seems like it will never happen.

Life happens and people move

Many homeowners who have a lower interest rate may choose to stay put for now. But there are also plenty of sellers who may need to downsize, move out of town for family reasons, or relocate due to a new employment opportunity.

Without knowing where interest rates will end up and what that will do to our economy and inflation overall, we have to take real estate a step at a time. And we will! No matter what you may hear or read, the sky is not falling.

One thing about real estate is true. People will always be moving. Real estate happens because life happens. I recently sold a house for a family who moved to Colorado, another past client who got married and moved into his house, as well as a family who moved to California to be closer to family members.

Baby boomers are still going to downsize

I work primarily with baby boomers that are in the process of downsizing. The reasons for their downsizing are many but add a possible recession into the mix and that gets them thinking and moving even faster. Many of my boomers that are on a current 5 Year Plan, have indicated to me they want to move things up and do something by the end of 2023. Some of them are going to get serious about getting rid of their stuff – sooner than later!

Regardless of the current economy or inflation, we have to deal with it is what it is. In other words, I bought my first house in the early 80s when interest rates were 16.75%. I was pregnant with my daughter and we were renting a small 2-bedroom house. I wanted to get situated for the new addition to our family. Had we waited for rates to come down, it could have taken years. We made the necessary adjustments and made it happen.

How to adjust to an uncertain real estate market

First of all, set aside everything else for a minute. Before anything, you need to decide what’s important to you. What are the alternatives if you sell your house in 2023 or don’t? If you’re selling your home, why are you doing that? Do you have the time and the health to wait until the real estate market corrects? And will it ever?

If you’re buying, how important is it to you to become a homeowner? Why are you doing that? If you decide to forge ahead, you need to know that there are many great programs and options out there to get into a mortgage interest rate that works for you.

I’ve been selling real estate for over 35 years and rates had never been at 3- 4% until recently. So live your life and quit trying to predict what’s going to happen. Do what matters to you. Quit listening to others.

The predicted state of the 2023 real estate market – 3 things I know for sure

Rates will remain higher than in 2022

At this time, I would imagine rates will probably end up around 6% or a little bit lower. What can you do about that? Absolutely nothing. I don’t like the price of a dozen eggs either but I can’t change it.

If you’re buying your first home, rates may be higher than you want but your rent will continue to go up as well. Are you going to continue to move every year to save a few bucks on your apartment rent because a new complex offers you a deal?

Home prices will decline

Will home prices decline or readjust? Home prices must re-correct every few years to get the market leveled off. It tends to happen every ten years or so. Trouble is, if you have to sell that house you overpaid for in 2021 or 2022, it’s not worth what you paid for it then so it becomes a real problem when the market shifts.

Home sales will decrease

It’s only natural that people tend to want to hunker down when the going gets tough. If you want to sell in 2023, be a smart seller and understand what it’s going to take to be the best house to choose from. There is no runner-up in the game of real estate. You either win or you lose.

So, if you’re selling, sell smart and do it now because as home sales drop, you’ll have more opportunities. Pick the best agent who has experience in navigating a challenging market. Home staging is more important now than ever. If you are still living in your home, hire the best stager to create that model home look that every buyer wants and will pay more money to get.

And if you’re buying, you’re going to have to lower your expectations a bit. It’s ok. Rates may drop a little later in the year but be smart and buy now while other buyers are waiting for the rates to drop. You’ll be in a better buying position with less competition and won’t be overpaying for a home like your friends did. Don’t despair, you’ll make the home that’s currently affordable for you into your dream home in no time. The state of the 2023 real estate market is not your opportunity for trying to keep up with The Joneses.

In conclusion

We have no idea what might happen with real estate or anything for that matter. Keep your blinders on and focused on what’s important to you. The last few years have proven to be unimaginable in so many different respects. What I know for sure, is once you decide something, do it and do it now. We never know how long we have or what the country is going to experience that could affect our destiny even more. In all actuality, real estate changes with the times, the same as your life!

I want to be your Realtor!

Check out today’s new listings either below or in the sidebar. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 to see inside one of these homes. I AM NEVER TOO BUSY to show you a house. Real estate is my main hustle after 35 years! Everything else I do is bells and whistles to enhance your experience!

Remember…the Realtor you choose determines the results you get. Choose carefully!

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(all data current as of 9/21/2023)

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

 
 

Preventing Frozen Pipes

This year the cold weather came in like a lion and preventing frozen pipes is something you must do! My pipes froze last year and I was without running water for days. Here are some tips for preventing frozen pipes and what to do if your pipes do freeze.

Locate your water shut-off valve

First of all, do you know where your water shut-off valve is located? Before you do anything else, go to your basement or garage and find your water shut off. Furthermore, be sure to tag it so everyone in your household knows where it is and how to turn it off in the case of an emergency of a burst or frozen pipe.

Did you disconnect your water hoses?

Hopefully, you remembered to disconnect all of your water hoses from your exterior spigots before the freeze this week. By leaving your hoses connected, the water in them can freeze, expand and back up into the spigot and actually burst an interior pipe.

Open your cabinet doors

If you have interior sinks located on exterior walls, it’s normal for your plumbing to be vulnerable because the exterior walls are not insulated. The cold air from the outside can and will cause frozen pipes. Open the doors under your sinks to allow the heat from the room to get in there and keep the pipes warm.

Preventing frozen pipes best tip

When the temperatures drop below freezing, be sure to leave your faucets on those exterior wall sinks at a slow drip. This will keep the water moving through the pipes. It may increase your water bill a little, but that small increase will be much cheaper than burst or frozen pipes.

How to know if you have frozen pipes

If your water pressure is low, you may have a frozen pipe somewhere in the house. A pipe that feels extremely cold to the touch may be frozen. It’s imperative to clear the blockage as soon as possible to prevent a pipe from bursting in some inaccessible area of your home.

If you have no water service, more than likely the main line from the street may be frozen. Call me for a referral to an honest plumber to assist you.

Thawing frozen pipes

Open a nearby faucet slightly so the pipe can drain as it starts to thaw. You can use a hair dryer or heating pad to thaw a frozen pipe. Do not use in standing water as you could be electrocuted. Do not use a blow torch or pour hot water onto frozen pipes.

Need a plumber?

Finally, if you need a referral to a plumber for any regular or emergency service, please call or text me at (913) 515-3250 anytime 24/7.  Heaven forbid you call one of those plumbers that advertise heavily on television. That one mistake alone could cost you thousands of your hard-earned dollars. Please allow me to refer you to someone who is NOT on my own personal DO NOT CALL LIST and will look out for your best interests.

I want to be your Realtor!

Check out today’s new listings either below or in the sidebar. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 or contact me here to see inside one of these homes. I AM NEVER TOO BUSY to show you a house. Real estate is my main hustle after 35 years! Everything else I do is bells and whistles to enhance your experience!

Remember…the Realtor you choose determines the results you get. Choose carefully!

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(all data current as of 9/21/2023)

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

 
 

21961 W 116th Terrace

For Sale in Olathe, KS – $415,000

SOLD FAST IN 1 DAY!

You’ll love this beautiful reverse story and a half in an established maintenance-provided community. Don’t miss your opportunity to live in this well-maintained, lightly lived-in “Prescott” floor plan. The 1st floor offers soaring ceilings and oversized windows. From the open-concept kitchen and living space with wood floors and a corner fireplace to the outdoor deck and patio, there is plenty of room here for everyone. The amazing kitchen features a large island, breakfast bar, walk-in pantry, granite counters, and stainless appliances. The large primary suite has a pretty bath with double vanities, a big walk-in shower, and a spacious closet. The 2nd bedroom and bath are on the main level opposite the primary bedroom. For additional space to entertain friends and family or simply relaxing there’s a lower-level family room with a 2nd fireplace plus a 3rd bedroom and bath. Enjoy the pretty landscaping on a choice large lot. Lots of extras plus plenty of storage in the basement. Loads of close-by amenities and great highway access. It’s priced to sell and a quick close is possible!

View the photo slideshow here.

Check out today’s new listings either below or in the sidebar. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 to see inside one of these homes. I AM NEVER TOO BUSY to show you a house. Real estate is my main hustle after 35 years! Everything else I do is bells and whistles to enhance your experience!

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(all data current as of 9/21/2023)

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

 
 

Selling Your Home in a Changing Market

Selling your home in a changing market is the biggest concern for most home sellers and their agents right now. With mortgage rates skyrocketing this year, there are fewer buyers, fewer offers, and fewer houses being sold.

While the real estate market has changed dramatically in the last few months, many newer agents have never experienced this kind of market. Previously houses were flying off the shelf sometimes sight unseen. We are now back in a market that I love. For the past few years, it was about having to come up with the best strategy to be the seller’s favorite offer. Now it comes down to Real Estate 101. It comes down to understanding the market and how your home can stand out from its competition once again. We are finally back to selling homes using the basics of real estate.

You see, selling your home in a changing market comes down to three things. The first and most important thing is your home staging. You can’t sell your home without it.

The art of home staging

In 2006, I learned the art of home staging from the lady that created the concept in 1973. Home staging is not new. It was originally designed for occupied homes to create your best look by using your own things. It was never about furnishing vacant homes. And in 2006, homes weren’t selling. I knew the problem and I just needed a way to fix it. There were houses I would show and be embarrassed about the way they looked. I knew the secret to selling any house in any market was home staging. But I didn’t know how to sell the idea to my sellers. After tracking down the lady that created home staging, I flew to Chicago and worked with her one on one to learn the craft itself and her best-kept secrets.

Overland Park Home Staging was born

When I returned from Chicago after my training and becoming an Accredited Home Staging Stylist, I got busy and started a home staging business. Another Staged Home later became Overland Park Home Staging. In 2006, it was a very new concept to most Realtors but when they saw the difference it made, things really took off!

At that time, there was only one other home stager in the area that I knew of. But as time went on, home stagers started popping up everywhere. Most of them never had any formal training. At that time, I was known as the Queen of Staging.

In the art of home staging, there is a definite home staging concept that I learned and there are strategies to use on every house. I was lucky enough to have the “right eye” to be able to walk into a room and create your home’s best look. It was mostly about what to keep, what to get rid of and the right arrangement of your furniture and accessories. Anybody can come in and tell you to pack up your stuff – that’s called a Home Staging Consultation. What you really need is someone to come in and create your home’s best look using what you have – that’s a Now to Wow Styling Session. Sadly, that’s where most of today’s home stagers fail. They just don’t have the right sense of style that’s necessary to create the look that sells.

To stage or not to stage

The way your home is staged or not staged will determine whether you get showings and offers on your house. All of my listings have to meet the criteria of the Model Home Look before we decide on your actual listing price. I tell my sellers all the time, sometimes I increase the price because I’m so impressed with the end result and the way their home looks.

Pricing your home to sell in a changing market

Pricing is the second most important thing when it comes to selling your home in a changing market. The real estate market changes every day. You can decide on a price for your house and the day before you come on the market, you see a for sale sign in your neighbor’s yard that is less than your price and their house is better than yours! Believe me when I tell you that happens ALL THE TIME!

I have a very specific Home Pricing Strategy that I use with every new listing I take. The seller and I have to agree on the strategy and if we get it wrong, we know when we will course correct it even before they come on the market. Time is of the essence in real estate and every day you’re overpriced is detrimental to your bottom line.

The right price is imperative to sell your home quickly in a slower market. But even with that said, if your home shows well and the buyers fall in love with it, they will make an offer even if it’s lower than the asking price.

Choosing the right Realtor in a changing market

The third most important aspect of selling your home in a changing market is the Realtor you choose. I know, most sellers choose their agent based on their relationship with that person. My last listing was referred to me by a former seller of mine. Her friend was getting ready to sell and she was thinking about using a newer agent that was a friend of a friend. But my friend intervened and suggested that she give me a call – knowing I could turn her house into a fabulous listing that would show well and sell quickly.

My 35 years of experience and home staging expertise came into play when we turned an original kitchen that was not being used, into a mudroom to die for on a shoestring budget. The house sold in September 2022 when mortgage rates were skyrocketing. We sold the 1st weekend, with multiple offers and it sold for $20k over the asking price.

I can’t imagine where they would be had they hired the newer agent with little experience. This house went through a few major transitions. Other agents told them things to do to the house that I told them didn’t matter. Real estate is totally each person’s opinion. Ask 5 agents for their advice and they will all give you a different answer. I always look at it from a home stager’s point of view. My plan must have worked. My sellers are now living in Colorado.

Is your agent right for a changing market?

If the Realtor you are going to hire is complaining about the slowdown of the market, that person might not be the right agent for you. In other words, houses are selling when the listing agent knows how to make it happen. That being said, your house has to look fabulous and be priced right in order to sell.

A changing market is the best time to talk to different agents. I always suggest talking to 3 different agents and making your decision based on their game plan to sell in a shifting market. If they are still using the same plan they were using a year ago, move on. The market has changed.

You see, you can still get multiple offers for thousands over the asking price if your house speaks to the buyers. Instead of reducing your price 30 days into the deal, now is the time to create your home’s best Model Home Look and wow those buyers. You’ve only got one chance to make a first impression. It’s the 10 second rule! Buyers will make a decision about your house within 10 seconds of opening the front door. Give them what they want and they will pay you more money for it every time.

Bottom line

At the end of the day, there are only 3 ways to win when selling your home in a changing market. In real estate, there is no try. Nothing else matters other than:

  1. The way your home looks
  2. The price
  3. The Realtor you choose

Without those 3 things in place, you too could be looking at average days on the market of 30+ with multiple price reductions. It’s your house, your money, and your future. Why not get it right from the beginning and get your home sold now? There are still plenty of buyers out there. Why will they choose your home over your competition?

To schedule a FREE 30-minute home selling consultation with me, call or text (913) 515-3250 to see if what I do will work for you!

Check out today’s new listings either below or in the sidebar. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 to see inside one of these homes. I AM NEVER TOO BUSY to show you a house. Real estate is my main hustle after 35 years! Everything else I do is bells and whistles to enhance your experience!

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(all data current as of 9/21/2023)

Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.

 
 

Selling Your Home with St Joseph

I hadn’t thought about selling your home with St Joseph for a while. But with the latest real estate statistics that just came out, I think we might have a resurgence in St Joseph statue sales. The Overland Park real estate market has drastically changed and you’d better take notice if you’re thinking of sellin