Category: Overland Park Real Estate

How to Sell Your Home over the Holidays

Now is the time to be thinking about how to sell your home over the holidays! What are those holiday home staging rules you should follow if you are selling your home before the end of the year?

First of all, selling your home in Overland Park over the holidays is different than other times of the year. Furthermore, most buyers don’t want to see your holiday collections or decorations – let them envision their own.

Above all else, be sure to follow the tips below to grab the attention of your buyers and allow them to fall in love with your home.

Here are my 10 best holiday home staging rules if you want to know how to sell your home over the holidays:

  1. Create some front door appeal. It starts right here. This is the most important tip of my holiday home staging rules. A simple, live wreath on the front door is classy. Add a big bow for major impact. Let them know this is just the beginning of a house they will love. Remember, love is the emotion that sells your house.
  2. Curb appeal is also important. Above all else, what will your buyers see as they drive up to your house? This is where their excitement starts. Add a colorful mat (preferably a non-holiday one) outside the door. A big urn or two next to the front door is preferred. Add fake or real Christmas trees and decorate them if you like, just keep it simple.
  3. Keep outside holiday decorations to minimum. Likewise, yard decorations, outdoor house lights, and holiday collections are distracting so keep to a minimum or avoid altogether. Home staging is always about less versus more. This is especially true outside.
  4. Minimal decorations inside, too. Inside, one simple Christmas tree is always best, with simple white lights and standard ornaments in one color if possible (or no tree at all is preferred). Remember, not everyone celebrates Christmas. The more distracting your tree is – the less of your house the buyers will see. Remember, potential home buyers are not there to look at your stuff, they are there to fall in love and envision themselves living in your space. Loads of presents under the tree are sometimes hard for small children to resist so keep that in mind when your house is on the market.
  5. No stockings hung with care. Keep the mantle free and clear and uncluttered (as always). Let your buyers visualize decorating the mantle themselves.
  6. Replace, don’t accumulate.Wherever you add holiday decorations, remove the other decorations. Remove what you have before adding anything new.
  7. Fresh displays of flowers or holiday greenery can be added in the kitchen and dining room if desired. Go for one big, well-executed display versus lots of little things. Don’t go overboard with Christmas decorations in each room. Decorations easily turn to clutter which eats up equity.
  8. Be careful with candle displays and lit fireplaces– they cause accidents.
  9. Stow your holiday collections. Definitely don’t get out your collections of nutcrackers, Santa’s or other holiday display items that distract your buyers. These are the reasons buyers leave a house and ask their Realtor, “Was there a fireplace in the living room? I was so busy looking at their stuff, I don’t remember.”
  10. Bake up an offer. Finally, a freshly baked slice-and-bake cookies on the counter are a quick way to make the house smell fabulous and are a great way to win over the buyers – and hungry Realtors! Refreshments can help, too, so have some bottled water or anything else bottled or canned. Buyers get hungry and thirsty when out looking for the right house. Be sure to provide them with some napkins and it will keep them lingering in your home longer. Make sure your kitchen is spic-and-span spotless because while hanging out, they will notice everything!

Don’t wait to sell your home over the holidays

Remember, selling your Overland Park home over the holidays isn’t that much different than any other time of the year. There’s still time but you’ve got to get your home on the market NOW. I sold 13967 W. 146th Street in Olathe, KS on Christmas Eve with multiple offers. What a perfect Christmas gift for her!!!

For that reason, it’s a great time to sell since January is the busiest month for corporate relocations. Many people who are relocating to Kansas City are in town starting their search for the perfect home to buy.

Use these simple holiday home staging rules to prepare your home for sale. It will stand out from your competition so you win the home selling game over the holiday season. One more house SOLD FAST is good for everyone!

I hope these tips will help you understand how to sell your house over the holidays. If you want to sell your Overland Park home over the holidays, I can help. My home staging strategies give your home that model home look all buyers want so your home sells faster and for more money. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 or contact me here. The best part? My Home Staging services are FREE to all of my clients when they sell with Mel!

What’s your home worth in today’s market?

Also, 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!

Looking for a house to buy in Overland Park?

Finally, be sure to 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 11/29/2023)

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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 11/29/2023)

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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 11/29/2023)

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

 
 

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 11/29/2023)

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 11/29/2023)

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 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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See all Real estate matching your search.
(all data current as of 11/29/2023)

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

 
 

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 11/29/2023)

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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!

  • List View
  • Map View

See all Real estate matching your search.
(all data current as of 11/29/2023)

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

 
 

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 subdi