Category: Overland Park Real Estate

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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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 selling!

What is a St Joseph statue?

  • It’s a little plastic statue that you bury in your yard
  • Rumor has it that it will make your home sell faster
  • But do you bury it in the front yard or back yard?
  • Should it face away from or toward the house?
  • With the cloth or without the cloth?
  • Do you leave it there once the house sells or dig it up?

Seems like too much voodoo to me. Home sellers ask me all the time if this will work to sell their house. Is this a custom in the Overland Park real estate market? My answer? “Don’t waste your time!”

Selling your home with St Joseph

While I’m all about doing everything you can do to sell your home faster, selling your home with St Joseph has never been anything I suggest. If you’ve ever used one of these statues and swear by them, then your house was probably on the market for some time and you probably finally got the price right. But the folk custom came to be that sellers should bury the statue as a sign of prayer asking to find a buyer.

I actually decided to team up with St. Joseph when I asked my seller, Melanie Dillon, if she buried one in her yard. Her response was they didn’t need to because they had St Melinda. Yes, St. Melinda sold their Overland Park house the first day on the market YEARS AGO (it’s what I’ve always done) – when there was actually some inventory to sell.

No matter what the inventory is, there are only 3 reasons your house will sell…

  1. It’s priced right
  2. It looks spectacular
  3. You have the right agent

There really are no gimmicks when it comes to selling real estate. Never have been. Even praying doesn’t work. Me teaming up with St Joseph is a gimmick – and I don’t need him. Too many agents focus on things that don’t really matter.

Here’s my secret sauce

If you start with the price and create a product worth that price, you’ll get more money every time. That’s exactly why I learned the art of home staging 16 years ago. Houses that were for sale didn’t show well. Many of them still don’t show well because sellers and their agents don’t understand what home staging really is and how it works.

The right price and a great look will boost a price every time. But even in today’s market, savvy buyers will not buy a house that’s overpriced. They will however pay you more for a house that’s priced right and that they can see themselves living in. They’ve got to get emotional about your house and if they don’t, they’re not going to buy it. My job, as your home stager, creates that emotion.

Bottom line

If you’re set on selling your house with St Joseph buried in your yard – you need to rethink things. Obviously, your agent hasn’t sold your house. Is there something they aren’t telling you or are you not listening? Which is it?

In life, you either make excuses or get results but you don’t get both. If you want to sell your house, quit making excuses, make the changes necessary and you’ll get results.

There are buyers out there but you’ve got to give them what they want. If your house is on the market and not selling, look at the pictures online. Does it compare to the house you want to buy? If not, get a new price, new look, or new agent.

I get calls from people around the country who can’t sell their house. When I see their photos, I understand why their house hasn’t sold. The time spent selling your home with St Joseph could be time better spent on figuring out why your house hasn’t sold and making necessary changes.

If your house hasn’t sold and you need help understanding why, ask St. Melinda at (913) 515-3250 or contact me here. Time is of the essence in real estate and every day your house is on the market is costing you thousands of dollars!

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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2022 Kansas City Fall Parade of Homes

The 2022 Kansas City Fall Parade of Homes started on Saturday, September 24th and runs through Sunday, October 9th. This year there are 269 homes on tour throughout 8 different counties.

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 2022 Kansas City Fall Parade of Homes at any new home subdivision and pick up a complete guide there.

How will the 2022 Kansas City Fall 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 2022 Kansas City Fall Parade of Homes and wander through the furnished homes.

You’ll either fall in love and want to take action towards buying a new home 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 integrate 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 your touring 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.

Pricing Your Home to Sell

The real estate market may be changing but if you’re not pricing your home to sell, you could be in for a huge surprise. There are still lots of buyers who are ready, willing, and able to buy your home for top dollar. But that doesn’t mean you can overprice your home and expect them to come running.

Today’s home buyers are savvy. They have done their research. They have spent hours looking at homes in person and online. After all, there are so many places to check out…Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, etc. And they always think one website will have a house and different information than another.

Home buyers that I work with typically know way more about a house I am going to show them than I know about it. They have looked at it online from every possible angle, taken every tour, and know its history. In addition, they know when you bought it, how much you paid for it and they are comparing it to others they’ve seen. They have probably driven by and will rule it out if it’s new to the market and they think it’s overpriced.

You see, it’s about them – your buyers and the experience they will have buying your home. By overpricing your home, it will make them leery. Buyers already think they are overpaying for a home. And then when you inflate the price, they will not trust you or the transaction. Nothing I do or say will change their minds. But price your home right and stage it so they fall in love, they will line up to bid the price up because it’s what they want to do.

Pricing your home to sell

Pricing your home to sell starts with being realistic, looking at the comparable homes that have sold, and trusting your agent. Unfortunately, there are lots of agents who will tell you what you want to hear. Believe me, in over 35 years of selling real estate, many agents are still using the same tired old tactics to get another listing. Overprice it, tell the sellers what they want to hear, and beat them up to lower their price later. That’s the 3P Marketing Plan of the ’90s:

  • Put the sign in the yard
  • Put it in MLS and
  • Pray

What else can you do when you’ve overpriced a home?

The only 3 reasons a house sells are:

  1. The right price
  2. The right staging and
  3. The right Realtor

Which comes first? Any house will sell if it is priced right. The agents who are good at pricing a home to sell are ahead of the rest. But unfortunately, they are few and far between.

The right home staging is important but even I will admit, some attempt at home staging is better than no staging at all. The difference is homes that are styled and staged to look drop-dead gorgeous get you more money – that’s all. It’s your money you’re either making or losing.

But making it all happen is having the right Realtor who can help you understand how real estate works. Selling your home is simple, but it’s not easy. The Realtor you choose will determine the results you get. Make sure the process starts with pricing your home to sell. After all, it’s your money. And the faster your house sells, the more money you will get!

If you’re thinking of selling a home in or around Overland Park and want to know what I do to help you sell faster and for thousands over the asking price, text or call me at (913) 515-3250 or contact me 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 2/1/2023)

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Home-Selling Marketing Tips

When it’s time to sell your Overland Park home, there are several quick home-selling marketing tips that can be incorporated to make the process easier, faster and that will net you more money. But it all comes down to your agent’s marketing mindset.

2 marketing mindsets to sell your house

  1. the average agent’s default plan to sell your home – the hope and pray plan and
  2. my “by design” version to sell your house – making sure everything is just right

With over 35 years of selling real estate, I do know selling your home requires a marketing plan. You don’t need an 89-point marketing plan. My plan is 3 simple steps and it works time and time again to sell my houses faster and for more money.

Unfortunately, selling by default is what most agents do. They don’t really have a plan to sell your house other than the hope and pray 3 P plan:

  1. Put a sign in the yard
  2. Put it in MLS and on the internet
  3. Pray it sells

Additional worn-out marketing that doesn’t work

After that they will often hold an open house every week, knock on every door in the neighborhood and put up pointer signs on the corners.

That last one did catch my attention recently. As a real estate agent and marketer, I am always intrigued by other agents’ marketing actions. For sale signs always grab my attention.

On my way to pick up my grandkids at school, I noticed a new “coming soon” sign on a corner house that I pass by. Then the coming soon sign came down and the open Sunday sign went up. A week later, there was a pointer sign on the corner – house for sale. After that, the agent added some balloons to the pointer sign.

I had to laugh. Yes, it caught my attention but do those things really work? The house is still for sale almost 2 months later.

I learned 35 years ago about the 3 P method to sell houses. They are just the wrong 3 P’s.

My 3 P’s come from a totally different kind of mindset but work to sell my average house in less than 3 days on the market, with multiple offers and for more than the asking price.

Fresh home-selling marketing tips

  • Planning my strategy to sell your house
  • Preparing your house to stand out from the competition  – home staging is my area of expertise
  • Pricing your house to sell versus sit on the market

Updated 3 P’s are very simple but they are not easy for most agents. Here’s why:

Agents are typically guided by their company strategies. That in itself, they don’t always work.

The right staging is crucial to selling your home quickly – that means detailing and fine-tuning your home so everything is just right. The proper arrangement of your furniture and accessories will cause buyers to fall in love with your home so they have to buy your house NOW. If they don’t fall in love, they will not buy your house.

Pricing your house to sell is a skill in itself that takes time to master and most agents don’t ever get it right. Most agents will overprice your home and then be embarrassed to ask for a price reduction.

Bottom line

I take one house at a time and create the best strategic home-selling marketing tips and plan that works for your home. Then I will make sure your home has that Model Home Look, is show-ready, and is priced to sell.

If you are thinking of selling your home, now is the time to create a 3 P strategic plan to sell. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 or contact me here to see how my 3 P’s can 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 2/1/2023)

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12217 Carter Street

SOLD in Overland Park, KS

Impressive 2-story with great curb appeal in Kensington Manor and the red-hot Blue Valley School District. You’ll love the open floor plan, and newly renovated kitchen with crisp white cabinetry, tiled backsplash, granite counters, cooktop island, beautiful flooring, and new stainless appliances. The 1st floor offers a great flow and includes a fireplace, lots of built-ins, and a delightful wet bar. The upstairs has 4 bedrooms with the possibility of two primary bedrooms – at opposite ends of the hallway. The lower level has substantial storage and space to escape or work out. Enjoy the gorgeous landscaped backyard while relaxing on your modern deck that’s perfect for entertaining family and friends. Loads of updates and upgrades in this well-maintained, lightly lived-in home including a new HVAC system. Fun, friendly, and active subdivision that’s close to Kensington Park, dining, shopping, and convenient to highway access.

Check out the beautiful photos 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 2/1/2023)

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

 
 

What’s Your 5 Year Plan

I work with a lot of baby boomers that are on their 5 year plan. Whether they are selling now or in the near future, they all want advice of what they need to do to sell “when it’s time.”

If you’ve been reading any of my previous blog posts, you probably already know about 35% of the houses that come on the market for sale – NEVER SELL! While that’s scary to me, it’s a reality. What’s even scarier is the fact that no seller thinks they are in that 35%.

So who is in the 35%?

How can you avoid being one of those sellers who never sells? Step up to the plate and give the buyers what they want. The days of “the buyers can make the changes after they buy our home” are over. That mindset will guarantee you don’t sell your house. Find out what it’s going to take to get your home updated so you sell it fast and for the most money.

What do today’s buyers want?

Follow my strategy and create The Model Home Look and you’ll have the buyers doing cartwheels to be the winning offer in this busy real estate market.

Today’s average buyers want a house that’s turnkey ready. They don’t want to do any work, nor do they have the time or money to do any work. They want to move in on Sunday and go back to work on Monday. That’s just the way it is. If you can get your head around that, you’ll be halfway there when selling your home.

Who is going to buy your home?

That question will be best answered by the current market. If your buyer is a young couple, they may not like your decorating style. While you’re saying, “our things aren’t staying with the house” trouble is, your things are sending a buy me or run message to your buyers.

Your buyers must be able to see themselves living in your house. And if it’s full of furniture from the ’70s or before, it’s going to remind them of their parent’s house or worse – their grandma’s house. I have never had a buyer say they wanted to buy either of those. After all, they have their own style and it may be nothing like yours.

What the typical home seller thinks

Recently I met with a lady whose house was stuffed full of furniture and accessories. Every inch of her home was filled with furniture and things she had collected over the years. She had such a hard time when I said she was going to have to pack some of those things up and move some furniture to free up some space.

Also, the homeowner thought that her things would make her house seem “homey.” I said she was sending a message that her buyers wouldn’t have enough furniture to fill the house up. Then she told me it was their “dream home” when they bought it and was having a hard time detaching from it.

Getting your 5 Year Plan in place

When you’re selling your home, you will either set yourself up for success or failure. My sellers who get that want me to stage and style their home so it sells now versus later. They also understand that their home must be ready. And they are. After all, they have been working on their 5 year plan for the last 5 years!

It’s understood that selling their home is like a Red Carpet Event and they would rather get it over with than lingering on the market. While you might think you’ll net more money after being on the market for a length of time, you’re only fooling yourself. When selling your home, there is no time for trying. Bottom line, hire an agent who has a plan in place to sell your house beyond the typical 3P Marketing Plan – Put it in MLS, Put on Broker Tour on Tuesday for the other agent’s opinions and Pray someone will buy it.

Bottom line

Selling a home requires a marketing plan that is designed to make it happen. I’m on a mission to help sellers understand how to sell their home faster and for the most money possible.  The perfect buyer for your home is out there – the question is are you onboard to make it happen?

If you’re considering selling and have things to do to prepare your home for the market, call or text (913) 515-3250 for your 5 Year Plan Consultation. Don’t delay in getting the information you need to make a wise decision about preparing and selling your home.

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 2/1/2023)

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

 
 

8206 W 144th Street

For Sale In Overland Park – $395,000

SOLD FOR THOU$$$$$$ANDS OVER ASKING PRICE!

Blue Valley Schools under $400k plus a putting green? This terrific 2 story has an open floor plan, loads of updates, and a finished walk-out lower level. The a/c and hot water heater were replaced in 2021. This layout is perfect for working from home (while working on your golf game) as well as entertaining friends and family. The formal dining room is the perfect space for your home office. You’ll love the pretty kitchen with white cabinets, glass fronts, granite, stainless appliances, breakfast bar plus dining area that walks out to the recently stained deck. Upstairs on the bedroom level is a large main bedroom with a bath that has heated tile floors! A jack and jill bathroom is between bedrooms 2 and 3. The 4th bedroom is off to itself for a little more privacy. The lower-level rec room with built-in cabinets and wet bar offers one large open space that’s perfect for so many uses: the kids, a man cave, exercise area, or all of the above. A cedar closet provides off-season storage. There is also a 3rd full bath plus plenty of storage. Walk out from the lower level to a lovely yard, vegetable garden area, and the putting green! Extras include a “smart” sprinkler system plus a workshop with a sink in the garage. This home is well maintained, pet-free, clean, and move-in ready! Convenient location with easy access to shops, great dining, and highway access.

Check out the photo slideshow here!

The Coming Soon Sign – Pros and Cons

Home sellers are always asking if I can put up a coming soon sign so their house gets more visibility. Yes, I can…but is that to your advantage? I want to share my opinion of the pros and cons of coming soon signs.

There are many schools of thought. Obviously, there is the home seller’s train of thought and the Realtor’s train of thought. My thoughts are always based on what works versus the seller’s thoughts of what they see others doing and what everybody is trying to sell you.

The pros and cons of a coming soon sign

Pros of a coming soon sign

As a home seller, you want to make sure your home is getting as much exposure as it can possibly get. But likes on Zillow don’t really matter. Random exposure is not as important as the right exposure. For example, I know you’ve seen houses on Zillow that have hundreds of views as well as saves, and yet it hasn’t sold yet. Those are random likes. When marketing your home, I expose it to Realtors who have buyers who are ready, willing, and waiting for a house like yours to come on the market. That is what is going to get your home sold with multiple offers and for thousands of dollars over your asking price.

Cons of a coming soon sign

For many reasons, a coming soon sign definitely gets the attention of the neighborhood! Your neighbors might tell some of their friends that a house in their neighborhood will be on the market soon. They might even mention it on their social media. But are their friends, YOUR buyers? In other words…

  • Are they working with a Realtor?
  • Have they been in the home buying process for a few months now?
  • Are they preapproved for a home loan? Do they have a house to sell?
  • Are they prepared to close in 30 days? Do they know how the current market works?
  • How many houses have they looked at?
  • Have they made offers that weren’t accepted?
  • And most importantly, how many houses have they lost?

Buying a home has changed

You see, home buying has changed. Until a buyer goes through the “how to buy a house when there’s no inventory phase” of the home buying process, they are not going to buy your house for over asking price. They just aren’t. Those people are not your buyer.

Home buyer case study

My recent buyers had every intention of finding a newer, larger home before they ever put their home on the market. Ashley had purchased the current home years ago when she was single. It was just right for her needs. But after getting married and having a baby, a 2 bedroom with no basement didn’t suit them so much anymore.

They did their due diligence and got preapproved for a home loan without having to sell their current home. That way, there was no pressure. They could take their time and find the right house without trying to coordinate two moves.

Long story short, we probably looked at 30 houses and wrote 10-15 offers…that they didn’t get. Every time they lost out to another offer, I tried to find out why. With every lost house, they became more informed of how to buy a house when there is no inventory. We kept coming up with a better game plan. They became better and stronger buyers. They learned the secret of buying a house in today’s market from not winning. Finally, they bought a house that worked for them and it didn’t break the bank.

When should you use a coming soon sign?

On the other hand, a coming soon sign might work for a house that:

  • Doesn’t show well and needs an extra push to get everybody’s attention
  • Might be in an area where similar houses don’t get multiple offers or
  • Is just flat out overpriced

Not to mention, there are license laws about what “coming soon” even means and the logistics of it. Formerly coming soon became coming soon to MLS. There are huge fines ($1,000) to pay if a house is shown to anyone before its active date. Any home for sale has to be available for anyone to see at the same time. That puts you as the homeowner under duress as well because unfortunately aggressive buyers and agents have been known to knock on a door of a coming soon house – just to take a peek.

The home buying process is all about elimination. Buyers are looking at houses to eliminate them because they know they can only buy one. That way, when they find the right one, they will know it’s the one and will fight their hardest to make it their own.

As a seller, you want all the exposure you can get but believe me, when I tell you a coming soon sign is not going to make your life easier. What I’ve found is it takes the anticipation, momentum and the thrill out of the process of coming on the market.

Hiring the right Realtor

Selling your home always starts with hiring the right Realtor. There are plenty of buyers out there that are looking for a house just like yours. Let my 34 years of experience of selling homes for top dollar and faster than the others work for you. I have perfected a marketing plan that works in all markets. Let me create my signature Model Home Look for you using your own things. It’s what every buyer wants and will pay extra money to get. It will definitely work for you…if you allow it to happen.

As your Realtor, it is my job to get your home not only priced right and looking fabulous with its model home look but to also get you multiple showings. Premarketing only takes away from the surprise of a new house on the market and the urgency to see it. Don’t give home buyers and their agents a reason to eliminate it before they get a chance to see it.

You don’t need a 59 Point Marketing Plan to sell your house in today’s market. My 3 Steps is easy and works!

What’s next?

Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 to find out how easy it will be to sell your home without all the confusion of a coming soon sign.

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 2/1/2023)

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

 
 

What You Need to Know about Real Estate in 2022

My state of the real estate market address

The post-pandemic future of Covid and real estate in 2022 is uncertain. No one can definitely predict what’s going to happen this year, but as a 15-year winner and recipient of the 2022 Five Star Professional Real Estate Agent award in Kansas City and Overland Park, I want to address the 3 most important things for sure.

The top 3 things that matter for home sellers and home buyers

  1. Inventory
  2. Interest rates
  3. Prices

Real estate in 2022

Let’s get down to it. There is always speculation, but in my opinion, the only things that matter in real estate start with inventory. If I could just get those baby boomers moving on down the road, it would open up a whole lot of inventory. But boomers are typically stubborn and if they’re not ready, they are not going anywhere. I will continue to try by educating them on the benefits of downsizing and selling their homes while they still can.

Is there even any housing inventory out there?

As in previous years, there is still such a lack of inventory, so I predict buyers will be in the same situation when trying to buy real estate in 2022. For every house that comes on the market, there are at least 10 if not 50 buyers (depending on the price range) who want to buy it.

For example, I had a cute little 50-year-old home that had never had any updates. In other words, picture grandma’s house if you will. It was extremely well maintained but had lots of wallpaper, old, stained carpet, heavy drapes, and an outdated kitchen with mismatched appliances and original bathrooms with colorful tile. But it also was in a great neighborhood, had virgin hardwood floors under the carpet, a nice big eat-in kitchen, a spacious newer deck that overlooked the fenced backyard, and came with an older washer and dryer! After looking at the comparable houses that had recently sold in that neighborhood, we priced it at $215,000 which is exactly where we felt it was worth. I had over 70 showings, over 20 offers and it sold for $254,000. It sold for $39,000 over the asking price, had no inspections, and closed in 10 days.

My point being, yes there is inventory but when you have 70 showings on one house, there are obviously more buyers than houses for sale.

Interest rates

It’s a well-known fact that The Federal Reserve is expected to raise mortgage interest rates several times in 2022. It is predicted that interest rates will rise to at least 3.5% by year-end. Now granted, that’s not a lot considering I bought a house in the ’80s at 16.75%.

But for today’s buyers, for rates to go up even half a point can affect what they qualify for when buying a home. As a result, even at a 3.5% interest rate, that shouldn’t keep buyers from wanting to get into a house. But those carry-over buyers that didn’t get a house in 2021, will find their buying power at a higher interest rate will give them less to spend. That is unless they were able to save additional money in 2021.

Another real-life situation is I have some buyers that wrote a new construction contract in January of 2021. Well, needless to say, their home was supposed to be finished and closed in December. However, due to supply shortages, delivery issues, and now with so many workers out with Covid, the best guess for completion is now mid-April. And that date is a moving target.

Prices

Oh, those prices…what will buyers be willing to pay in 2022? WIT – whatever it takes. Buyers want what they want and many are sick and tired of not being able to become homeowners.

What are their options? Potential homebuyers are sick and tired of paying rent which continues to increase. Landlords know they are in the driver’s seat and can charge overinflated prices for rent because they can. The average rent increases 10% a year. I am working with some buyers who are paying top dollar for a rental house at $2,400 a month. That’s almost $30,000 a year for rent. They told me they are willing to pay $30,000 over the asking price for a house since that’s what they will be forking out in the next year if they continue to have to pay rent.

In conclusion

Real estate in 2022 will be a big year for many people. It’s my belief, after 2 years of Covid, people are desiring to be closer to their families so inventory may be a bit higher than in 2021. I already have many clients who have told me they will be selling this year to move closer to family.

My best guess is we will remain in a seller’s market throughout 2022. Buyers will continue to make multiple offers and pay way over the asking price for at least another year.

What are your options?

If you’re selling…

If you’re considering selling your home in 2022 you should be educated and know how real estate has changed. Have a plan to sell. Don’t call one of those companies who will sell your house with no showings or whatever they tell you to make you bite. All of those companies that pop up when there is an opportunity in the marketplace should be thoroughly scrutinized.

I’ve been selling real estate for 35 years and there have been so many gimmick and pop-up companies over the years. At the end of the day, real estate has existed well over 100 years and I tell my sellers that no one will get them more money than I will with 35 years of negotiating skills. Real estate lessons come from experience. My services will pay for themselves.

Would you like to know the real estate activity in your neighborhood? I have a great tool for that. You can simply put in your address and it immediately pulls up your subdivision so you can take a closer look at what houses like yours are selling for.

Or if you want to schedule a FREE in-person market evaluation, please call or text me at (913) 515-3250 or contact me here. I’ll be happy to stop by and give you a more accurate value of what you can expect to sell for in this market. While I’m there, you can also get all of your questions about your house, the market, or anything else that’s on your mind. I promise you’ll be better informed when I leave than you were when I arrived. People tell me all the time, “Oh, I didn’t know that.” Real estate changes daily. Don’t leave it to chance.

If you’re buying…

If you’re buying in 2022, reach out here for a free buyer consultation or call or text me at (913) 515-3250. It’s important to know upfront, how things have changed for home buyers, and what you need to do to be a buyer in today’s market.

You can 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! It’s why I’ve been a Five Star Professional Real Estate Agent for the last 15 consecutive years. Everything else I do is merely bells and whistles to enhance your experience!

  • List View
  • Map View

See all Real estate matching your search.
(all data current as of 2/1/2023)

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